Majestic steep! Ah yet I love Thy ivied, wave-beat rocks recall Enthusiasm, Nature's child, Here sung to me her wood-songs wild, It bade my bosom burn for fame, Soft as the morning sheds her light So soft the bright-eyed Fancy shed Her rapturing dreams around my head, And drove my cares away. When the white moon with glory crown'd The azure of the sky around, Her silver radiance shed; When shone the waves with trembling light, And slept the lustre palely-bright, Upon thy tower-clad head. Then BEAUTY bade my pleasures flow, Then mirth, and cheerfulness, and love, But when the Dæmon of the deep And bade the tempests rise, Bade the white foaming billows roar, Ah, then my soul was rais'd on high, And felt the glow of ecstacy, With great emotions fill'd; Thus joy and terror reign'd by turns, And now with Love the bosom burns, And now by FEAR IS chilled. Thus to the sweetest dreams resign'd, To hear the voice of TRUTH. She claims my best, my loftiest song, She leads a brighter maid along Divine PHILOSOPHY, Who bids the mounting soul assume Immortal Wisdom's eagle plume, To a LOCK of HAIR. Relick of her whom most of all I love, How oft revert my thoughts to that past day, As o'er her neck the auburn ringlets roved; How fondly have I gazed on thee, when woe Has waked the throbbing tumult in my breast; And loath were I thy presence to forego, Tho' that loved presence robb'd me of my rest. No, dear memento, no, we will not part, For I will ever wear thee next my heart. M |