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whom, of stature elegantly small, and of complexion colourless yet clear, was proclaimed the Fairy Queen, on which occasion, and at which time, the following irregular ode was written.

I.

WHOM the untaught Shepherds call

Pixies in their madrigal,

Fancy's children, here we dwell:

Welcome, Ladies! to our cell.

Here the wren of softest note

Builds it's nest and warbles well;
Here the blackbird strains his throat:
Welcome, Ladies! to our cell.

II.

When fades the moon all shadowy pale,
And scuds the cloud before the gale,
Ere Morn, with living gems bedight
Streaks the East with purple light,
We sip the furze-flow'r's fragrant dews
Clad in robes of rainbow hues
Richer than the deepen'd bloom
That glows on Summer's scented plume:
Or sport amid the rosy gleam,
Sooth'd by the distant tinkling team,
Whilst lusty Labour, scouting sorrow,
Bids the Dame a glad good morrow,
Who jogs th' accustom'd road along,
And paces cheery to her cheering song.

III.

But not our filmy pinion

We scorch amid the blaze of day
When Noontide's fiery-tressed minion
Flashes the fervid ray.

Aye, from the sultry heat

We to the cave retreat,

O'ercanopied by huge roots intertwin'd

With wildest texture, blacken'd o'er with age:
Round them their mantle green the ivies bind.
Beneath whose foliage pale

Fann'd by the unfrequent gale

We shield us from the Tyrant's mid-day rage.

IV.

Thither, while the murm'ring throng
Of wild bees hum their drowsy song,
By Indolence and Fancy brought,
A youthful Bard, “unknown to fame,"
Woos the Queen of Solemn Thought,
And heaves the gentle mis'ry of a sigh,
Gazing with tearful eye,

As round our sandy grot appear
Many a rudely sculptur'd name
To pensive Mem'ry dear!

Weaving gay dreams of sunny-tinctur'd hue
We glance before his view:

O'er his hush'd soul our soothing witch'ries shed
And twine our fairy garlands round his head.

V.

When Evening's dusky car,

Crown'd with her dewy star,

Steals o'er the fading sky in shadowy flight;

On leaves of aspern trees

We tremble to the breeze,

Veil'd from the grosser ken of mortal sight.
Or, haply, at the visionary hour,

Along our wild sequestred walk,

We listen to th' enamour'd rustic's talk;

Heave with the heavings of the maiden's breast, Where young-eyed Loves have built their turtle nest; Or, guide of soul-subduing power,

Th' electric flash, that from the melting eye
Darts the fond question and the soft reply.

VI.

Or thro' the mystic ringlets of the vale We flash our fairy feet in gamesome prank ; Or, silent-sandal'd, pay our defter court

Circling the Spirit of the Western Gale, Where, wearied with his flower-caressing sport, Supine he slumbers on a violet bank; Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam, By lonely Otter's sleep-persuading stream, Or where his wave with loud unquiet song, Dash'd o'er the rocky channel, froths along; Or where his silver waters smooth'd to rest, The tall tree's shadow sleeps upon his breast.

VII.

Hence! thou lingerer Light!
Eve saddens into Night.

Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view
The sombre hours, that round thee stand,
With down-cast eyes (a duteous band!)
Their dark robes dripping with the heavy dew.
Sorceress of the ebon throne !

Thy power the Pixies own,
When round thy raven brow
Heaven's lucent roses glow,

And clouds, in watery colours drest,

Float in light drapery o'er thy sable vest; What time the pale moon sheds a softer day,. Mellowing the woods beneath its pensive beam: For mid the quiv'ring light 'tis ours to play, Aye dancing to the cadence of the stream.

VIU.

Welcome, Ladies! to the cell,

Where the blameless Pixies dwell.

But thou, sweet nymph! proclaim'd our Fairy Queen
With what obeisance meet

Thy presence shall we greet?
For lo! attendant on thy steps are seen
Graceful Ease in artless stole,
And white-rob'd Purity of soul,
With Honour's softer mien :

Mirth of the loosely-flowing hair,
And meek ey'd Pity eloquently fair
Whose tearful cheeks are lovely to the view,
As snow-drop wet with dew.

IX.

Unboastful Maid! tho' now the Lily pale
Transparent grace thy beauties meek;
Yet ere again along th' impurpling vale,
The purpling vale and elfin-haunted grove,
Young Zephyr his fresh flowers profusely throws
We'll tinge with livelier hues thy cheek;
And, haply, from the nectar-breathing Rose
Extract a blush for Love!

THE ROSE.

As late each flower that sweetest blows
I pluck'd, the Garden's pride!

Within the petals of a Rose

A sleeping love I spied.

Around his brows a beamy wreath

Of many a lucent hue;

All purple glow'd his cheek beneath,
Inebriate with dew.

I softly seiz'd th' unguarded Power,
Nor scar'd his balmy rest;

And plac'd him, cag'd within the flower,
On spotless Sara's breast.

But when unweeting of the guile

Awoke the pris'ner sweet,
He struggled to escape awhile,

And stamp'd his fairy feet.

Ah! soon the soul entrancing-sight
Subdued th' impatient boy!

He gaz'd he thrill'd with deep delight!
Then clapp'd his wings for joy.

And oh he cried-" Of magic kind

What charm this Throne endear!

Some other Love let Venus find

I'll fix my empire here."

THE KISS.

ONE, kiss, dear Maid! I said and sigh'd-
Your scorn the little boon denied.

Ah why refuse the blameless bliss?
Can danger lurk within a kiss?

Yon viewless Wand'rer of the vale,
The Spirit of the Western Gale,
At Morning's break, at Evening's close
Inhales the sweetness of the Rose,
And hovers o'er th' uninjur❜d Bloom
Sighing back the soft perfume.
Vigour to the Zephyr's wing
Her nectar-breathing Kisses fling;
And He the glitter of the Dew
Scatters on the Rose's hue.

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