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So, lest this canto should not close to-day,

I'll not indite another serious line; But to thy image thus inscribe my lay,

Unknown, but much respected' Caroline,' From whom I've just received a flattering letter, Which makes me inconceivably your debtor.

XCII.

I know not, lady, if thy cheek be fair,
Nor what may be the colour of thine eyes;
I ask no questions about lips or hair,

But I am sure that thou art good and wise
And gentle, and hast kindly tears to spare,

In graver moods, to poet's phantasies; And therefore, lady, shalt thou be enshrined Amidst the holiest visions of my mind.

XCIII.

Haply I ne'er shall see thee:—be it so ;
I have a gentle vision of my own,-
A maiden with meek eyes, and locks that flow
Down on her lustrous shoulders; all alone
She sits, with saintlike aspect-touch'd with woe;
Mute-listening to the low and dreamy tone
Of quiet musings and calm thoughts, enshrined
Deep in the inmost temple of her mind.

XCIV.

Ay! there it is, with radiant garments flowing, Like summer clouds around the rising sunThe soul-lit eye with heavenly rapture glowing,

The cheek just crimson'd o'er, and leaning on The small and snowy hand-alas! I'm growing Most eloquently crazy-but I've done;

I only mean to say the form's enshrined
Amidst the holiest visions of my mind.

XCV.

Perhaps 'tis better, lady, we should ne'er

Meet, lest this picture should receive a taint; Though I believe that thou art far more fair Than aught that my poor phantasy can paint; But then you know, dear madam, if I were

Proud to be thought a poet (which I an't)
I should be fearful that those eyes so critical
Might think my person not the most poetical.

XCVI.

In the mean time I'll thank you to believe me
The beau ideal of a poet's figure;

Your kind imagination may conceive me

Like Milton on the whole, though something bigger:

Slender and graceful;-yet I own 'twould grieve me
Not to possess my share of youthful vigour—
Paint how you please-I leave it to your taste,
In which my fullest confidence is placed.

XCVII.

And here I pause awhile, and wish good bye
To all my readers; hoping they've perused
These sorry stanzas with indulgent eye,

And won't disdain to own they've been amused; In which case, by the first of next July,

I shall be very glad to be abused

By churlish critics-so but hearts more wise
Deign to approve my rambling phantasies.

INTRODUCTORY STANZAS TO THE SECOND

CANTO OF SIR LAUNFAL.

****

ΤΟ

1.

BENEATH these willow-boughs, whose hovering shade

Shifts with the breeze o'er this secluded stream, 'Midst reeds and waving bulrushes embay'd,

My boat hath floated since the noon-day gleam; And now the light of eve begins to fade,

And I am scarce awaken'd from my dreamMy long day-dream of thee.-O! gentle friend, When will this thraldom of my spirit end?

2.

The storm, by which my heart so late was shaken,
Is over, and my thoughts are tranquil now,
And I can bear to feel myself forsaken—
Yea, with a placid and unalter'd brow;
Though, ever and anon, doth Memory waken

The slumbering gusts which make my spirit bow
And reel to its foundations-still my sleep
Is throng'd with passionate dreams, from which I
start to weep.

3.

And though these lovely haunts have never seen Thy beauty-nor, perchance, shall ever see,

Yet here the shadow of thy charms hath been,
And here are fresh remembrances of thee.
This lonely creek-these islands wild and green-
These woods and hills, speak feelingly to me;
For here that wild and secret passion grew,
In the first solitude my heart e'er knew.

4.

But I must dream no more :-and if I borrow
From the cold world one last and pensive day
To bury my dead hopes, and soothe fond sorrow
With the last tears these eyes will ever pay
To passion-thou wilt pardon me. To-morrow
Breaks the last spell, and bears me far away
From this dream-haunted region ;-here I
With the last folly of my hardening heart.

5.

part

So now farewell to Love,—but not to thee,
High-hearted Friend!-The hour of my despair

Did first reveal thy being's depths to me;
I saw the beauty of thy soul laid bare,—

Its power, and gentleness, and majesty,

Its deep and strong affections; and I swear, Here, while my hopes lie crush'd and bleeding yet, Thou art the noblest spirit I have met.

6.

High converse, since that hour, we two have held, Which will not be forgotten; thou alone

Hast search'd my inmost bosom, and beheld

My nature in its weakness;-thou hast known The thoughts that shook, the passions that rebell'd,

The dreams that made me tremble;-like thine own, Have been my spirit's faintings.-O! that thou Couldst feel the fulness of my triumph now!

7.

Methinks I could embrace my desolation,

And say "Farewell" serenely, were I sure That thy young spring of joyous expectation From that far gathering tempest were secure, Which yet may shake thy peace to its foundationBut I believe that thou wilt well endure

The fury of the storm, and lift thy brow

To heaven, unscathed, and more serene than now.

8.

For in thy thoughtful forehead's clear expanse, And in the lightning of thy quick, wild eye, And in the restless dreams, that shift and glance Through all thy eloquent looks incessantlyIn each bright movement of thy countenance— In thy most thrilling converse-I descry Heaven's stamp; nor e'er shall human error bind The strength and genius of thy mighty mind.

9.

O! had I known thee earlier—but one year—

One little year-when thou wast fancy-free,While both our natures trembled with one fear, And panted with one thirst-I vow to thee, By all that to my soul on earth is dear,

By all thy hopes of final victory,

By all we feel within, around, above—

Thou shouldst have loved me with a Spirit's love.

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