 | Lines on the words "This beautiful creation" |  |
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LINES ON THE WORDS “This Beautiful Creation,”
WHICH OCCURRED IN A LETTER OF JANUARY 13, 1813.
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“This Beautiful Creation,” didst thou say?
Yes, “beautiful,” beyond the Poet's lay!
Far beyond all the Poet's fancy breathes,
And fondly crowns with ever verdant wreaths!
Dear living scenes, on which my raptur'd eye
Opes, when Aurora glimmers through the sky,
O can the Bard's most brilliant colours glow
Like those that Nature's powers on you bestow?
Though deep the gloom, that casual Sorrows cast,
And chill Misfortune's shadows while they last;
Yet Joy contrasted bursts with brighter beam,
And light relumes us in a broader stream!
Where is the Bigot's rant, the frowning zeal,
Forbids the heart its purest joys to feel;
The peopled globe with gratitude to view;
And human bliss with human love pursue?
Yes, “beautiful,” beyond the Poet's lay!
Far beyond all the Poet's fancy breathes,
And fondly crowns with ever verdant wreaths!
Dear living scenes, on which my raptur'd eye
Opes, when Aurora glimmers through the sky,
O can the Bard's most brilliant colours glow
Like those that Nature's powers on you bestow?
Though deep the gloom, that casual Sorrows cast,
And chill Misfortune's shadows while they last;
Yet Joy contrasted bursts with brighter beam,
And light relumes us in a broader stream!
Where is the Bigot's rant, the frowning zeal,
Forbids the heart its purest joys to feel;
The peopled globe with gratitude to view;
And human bliss with human love pursue?
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O cold, misleading, unenlighten'd lore,
That first would break a spell, and then deplore!
Tear off the magic hues from every form,
Then blindly wonder what the breast can warm!
O lovely moral chain of banded thought;
Assemblage sweet by Nature's mintage wrought!
Unblest the darkling hand, that would untie
Knots, where so many fairy secrets lie!
That first would break a spell, and then deplore!
Tear off the magic hues from every form,
Then blindly wonder what the breast can warm!
O lovely moral chain of banded thought;
Assemblage sweet by Nature's mintage wrought!
Unblest the darkling hand, that would untie
Knots, where so many fairy secrets lie!
O interchange of seasons, that brings round
Each varying charm of sight, and smell, and sound,
That through hill, vale, plain, mead and wood abound!
O living creatures, that adorn the scene,
Bask in the sun, or feed upon the green;
Or wander through the forest's grateful shade,
Or lonely linger in th' untrodden glade;
Still with each image rising in the mind,
How deep the moral pleasure that is twin'd!
Each varying charm of sight, and smell, and sound,
That through hill, vale, plain, mead and wood abound!
O living creatures, that adorn the scene,
Bask in the sun, or feed upon the green;
Or wander through the forest's grateful shade,
Or lonely linger in th' untrodden glade;
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How deep the moral pleasure that is twin'd!
Thee first, whom God, on this terraqueous globe,
With rank and power, and lordly rule doth robe;
Man, mighty work of wonderful design,
Of mingled parts so frail and so divine,
What joy to praise Thee! what delight to dwell
On all those virtues which thy bosom swell!
Man's fairer Half, prime soother of his woes,
First of all earthly blessings Heaven bestows!
Companion, help-mate, idol! who has phrase
That with due eloquence can sing thy praise?
O thou, whose form, in Nature's loveliest views,
Still shines with best and most attractive hues;
Thou, on whose cheek the “the purple light of Love,”
And “bloom of young Desire” to rapture move!
O give the flowing ringlets of thy hair,
Give, to the breeze that steals along the air;
Glance thy light step, thine opening bosom show,
And let thine eyes with conscious kindness glow;
Then to the heart, illum'd by Fancy's beams,
How passing beautiful Creation seems!
With rank and power, and lordly rule doth robe;
Man, mighty work of wonderful design,
Of mingled parts so frail and so divine,
What joy to praise Thee! what delight to dwell
On all those virtues which thy bosom swell!
Man's fairer Half, prime soother of his woes,
First of all earthly blessings Heaven bestows!
Companion, help-mate, idol! who has phrase
That with due eloquence can sing thy praise?
O thou, whose form, in Nature's loveliest views,
Still shines with best and most attractive hues;
Thou, on whose cheek the “the purple light of Love,”
And “bloom of young Desire” to rapture move!
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Give, to the breeze that steals along the air;
Glance thy light step, thine opening bosom show,
And let thine eyes with conscious kindness glow;
Then to the heart, illum'd by Fancy's beams,
How passing beautiful Creation seems!
Spirit of Poesy, that lead'st me on
To rove through Nature's fields from earliest dawn,
Eager to gaze upon the tumbling floods,
And wander pensive through the silent woods,
What visions to my aching sight appear;
What notes aërial meet my ravish'd ear!
To Thee that warmth of temperament I owe
Which bids in deserts fruitful harvests grow;
And plenteous streams through barren regions flow!
To rove through Nature's fields from earliest dawn,
Eager to gaze upon the tumbling floods,
And wander pensive through the silent woods,
What visions to my aching sight appear;
What notes aërial meet my ravish'd ear!
To Thee that warmth of temperament I owe
Which bids in deserts fruitful harvests grow;
And plenteous streams through barren regions flow!
Methinks I hear the frigid Cynic cry,
“Wild the delusions, that thy bliss supply;
False and deceitful are the tints that play
Before thy dazzled sight with transient ray!”
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False and deceitful are the tints that play
Before thy dazzled sight with transient ray!”
Not wild, nor false, nor transient is the flame,
Which neither Grief can quench, nor Age can tame!
It lights me cheerly on my dangerous way,
And charms off Care while hovering o'er her prey!
Which neither Grief can quench, nor Age can tame!
It lights me cheerly on my dangerous way,
And charms off Care while hovering o'er her prey!
Bard! in thy breast when the first rapture springs,
As thy young eyes burst on this scene of things,
Is all that Fancy's after-work designs,
Fair as the view that to thy senses shines?
The gathering darkness, that with growing years
Collects, and washes every rose with tears,
Again disperses with maturer age,
When rash youth changes to the mellowed sage.
Then beautiful again Creation glows;
And soften'd Wisdom new enchantment shows
In every form that breathes, and tree that grows.
As thy young eyes burst on this scene of things,
Is all that Fancy's after-work designs,
Fair as the view that to thy senses shines?
The gathering darkness, that with growing years
Collects, and washes every rose with tears,
Again disperses with maturer age,
When rash youth changes to the mellowed sage.
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And soften'd Wisdom new enchantment shows
In every form that breathes, and tree that grows.
Since Time has long these temples turn'd to grey,
And bade this blood a steadier course obey,
Still the Soul's movements, with a brighter fire,
Burst through all clouds, and nobler thoughts inspire!
With clearer light the mental eye surveys
This mortal state in all its varying ways,
And bids the heart in softer thrills to beat;
To change the angrier passions into sweet;
Swell with new friendship; burn with purer love;
And bow with holier warmth to Him Above!
And bade this blood a steadier course obey,
Still the Soul's movements, with a brighter fire,
Burst through all clouds, and nobler thoughts inspire!
With clearer light the mental eye surveys
This mortal state in all its varying ways,
And bids the heart in softer thrills to beat;
To change the angrier passions into sweet;
Swell with new friendship; burn with purer love;
And bow with holier warmth to Him Above!
Ah! when at last the ebbing tide of life
With dying motion keeps a feeble strife,
When this fair scene so glittering with delight
For ever fades in darkness from the sight,
When all these veins, through which my trembling soul
Has taught the blood in kindliest tides to roll,
Shall swell and beat no longer; and from all
My heart loves best the palsied hand shall fall,
Ye, who last cling to my departing breath,
Who venerate my poor remains in death,
Guard, above all, that intellectual fame
I sought on earth with pure incessant flame;
And fail not with remembrance fond to tell,
What boundless gratitude was wont to swell
My bursting bosom, when with ecstacy
Creation's beauteous scenes my kindling eye
Beheld in broad expanse before it lie!
With dying motion keeps a feeble strife,
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For ever fades in darkness from the sight,
When all these veins, through which my trembling soul
Has taught the blood in kindliest tides to roll,
Shall swell and beat no longer; and from all
My heart loves best the palsied hand shall fall,
Ye, who last cling to my departing breath,
Who venerate my poor remains in death,
Guard, above all, that intellectual fame
I sought on earth with pure incessant flame;
And fail not with remembrance fond to tell,
What boundless gratitude was wont to swell
My bursting bosom, when with ecstacy
Creation's beauteous scenes my kindling eye
Beheld in broad expanse before it lie!
| Lines on the words "This beautiful creation" | |