This first false passion of his breast Roll'd like a torrent o'er the rest. He sue for mercy! He dismayed By wild words of a timid maid! He, wrong'd by Venice, vow to save No-though that cloud were thunder's worst, He looked upon it earnestly, Without an accent of reply; He watched it passing; it is flown : Nothing is there but the column stone. Hath she sunk in the earth, or melted in air? THE APOLLO BELVIDERE. Or view the Lord of the unerring bow, The God of life, and poesy, and lightThe Sun in human limbs array'd, and brow All radiant from his triumph in the fight; The shaft hath just been shot-the arrow bright With an immortal's vengeance; in his eye And nostril beautiful disdain, and might, And majesty, flash their full lightnings by, Developing in that one glance the Deity. But in his delicate form-a dream of love, All that ideal beauty ever blest The mind with in its most unearthly mood, Starlike, around, until they gather'd to a god! And if it be Prometheus stole from Heaven The fire which we endure, it was repaid By him to whom the energy was given, Which this poetic marble hath array'd With an eternal glory—which, if made By human hands, is not of human thought; And Time himself hath hallow'd it, nor laid One ringlet in the dust-nor hath it caught A tinge of years, but breathes the flame with which 'twas wrought. ANACREONTIC SONG. Fill the goblet again! for I never before Felt the glow that now gladdens my heart to its core ; Let us drink! who would not? since through life's varied round In the goblet alone no deception is found. I have tried in its turn all that life can supply; I have basked in the beam of a dark rolling eye; I have loved! who has not? but what heart can declare That pleasure existed while passion was there? In the days of my youth, when the heart's in the spring, And dreams that affection can never take wing, I had friends! who has not? but what tongue will avow That friends, rosy wine! are so faithful as thou? The breast of a mistress some boy may estrange, Friendship shifts with the sunbeam-thou never canst change; Thou grow'st old; who does not? but on earth what appears Whose virtues, like thine, still increase with its years? We are jealous! who's not? thou hast no such alloy, There we find, do we not? in the flow of the soul, ANAH'S INVOCATION TO HER ANGEL LOVER. Seraph! From thy sphere! Whatever star contain thy glory; In the eternal depths of heaven Albeit thou watchest with the "seven,"* *The archangels, said to be seven in number. Though through space infinite and hoary Oh! think of her who holds thee dear! Eternity is in thy years, Unborn, undying beauty in thine eyes; Thou walk'st thy many worlds, thou see'st As he hath made me of the least Of those cast out from Eden's gate. Oh hear ! For thou hast loved me, and I would not die That thou forget'st in thine eternity Her whose heart death could not keep from o'er For thee, immortal essence as thou art! [flowing Great is their love, who love in sin and fear; And such, I feel, are waging in my heart A war unworthy: to an Adamite Forgive, my Seraph! that such thoughts appear, For sorrow is our element; Delight An Eden kept afar from sight, Though sometimes with our visions blent. The hour is near Which tells me we are not abandon'd quite— My own Azaziel! be but here, And leave the stars to their own light! THE DEMON OF BATTLE. Hark! heard you not those hoofs of dreadful note? Red battle stamps his foot, and nations feel the shock. Destruction cowers to mark what deeds are done; For on this morn three potent nations meet, [sweet. To shed before his shrine the blood he deems most PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. Hark! through the silence of the cold, dull night, Along the leaguered wall and bristling bank The stars peep through the vapours dim and dank, |