70 Woods, that wave o'er Delphi's steep,' Isles, that crown th' Ægean deep, Fields, that cool Ilissus laves, Or where Mæander's amber waves In lingering Lab'rinths creep, How do your tuneful Echoes languish, Mute, but to the voice of Anguish? Where each old poetic Mountain Inspiration breath'd around: Ev'ry shade and hallow'd Fountain Murmur'd deep a solemn sound: Till the sad Nine in Greece's evil hour Left their Parnassus for the Latian plains.1 Alike they scorn the pomp of tyrant-Power, And coward Vice, that revels in her chains. When Latium had her lofty spirit lost, They sought, O Albion! 5 next thy sea-encircled coast. III THE STROPHE Far from the sun and summer-gale, 6 75 81 In thy green lap was Nature's Darling' laid, 85 What time, where lucid Avon stray'd, 90 1 the path of the sun 2 This and the following are places celebrated in Greek poetry. 3 the Muses 4 Italy Englandi.e. England's Shakespeare 5 7 So long, sure-found beneath the sylvan shed, Shall Fancy, Friendship, Science, rose-lipp'd Health, Thy gentlest influence own, And hymn thy fav'rite name! THE PASSIONS AN ODE TO MUSIC When Music, heav'nly maid, was young, First Fear his hand, its skill to try, Next Anger rush'd; his eyes, on fire, With woful measures wan Despair 50 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 30 And bade the lovely scenes at distance hail! Still would her touch the strain prolong, And from the rocks, the woods, the vale, She call'd on Echo still thro' all the song; 35 And where her sweetest theme she chose, A soft responsive voice was heard at ev'ry close, And Hope enchanted smil'd, and wav'd her golden hair. 1 the lyre, cf. Progress of Poesy, Il. 13-15 |