Lacked not, for love, fair objects whom they wooed 35 40 1808-1811 (?). THE SEA-SHELL. (FROM "THE EXCURSION," BOOK IV.) I HAVE Seen A curious child, who dwelt upon a tract Is to the ear of Faith; and there are times, 5 IO 15 Yes, you have felt, and may not cease to feel. In some calm season, when these lofty rocks At night's approach bring down the unclouded sky, A temple framing of dimensions vast, And yet not too enormous for the sound 20 25 30 35 The whispering air 40 Sends inspiration from the shadowy heights, With the loud streams: and often, at the hour 45 Within the circuit of this fabric huge, One voice - the solitary raven, flying Athwart the concave of the dark blue dome, Unseen, perchance above all power of sight - Faint- and still fainter as the cry, with which The wanderer accompanies her flight Through the calm region, fades upon the ear, 50 Diminishing by distance till it seemed To expire; yet from the abyss is caught again, 55 1808-1811 (?). LAODAMIA. ee WITH sacrifice before the rising morn Vows have I made by fruitless hope inspired; - So speaking, and by fervent love endowed Her countenance brightens and her eye expands; O terror! what hath she perceived? O joy! What doth she look on? - whom doth she behold? Her Hero slain upon the beach of Troy? 15 His vital presence? his corporeal mould ? Laodamía! that at Jove's command Thy Husband walks the paths of upper air: He comes to tarry with thee three hours' space; Forth sprang the impassioned Queen her Lord to clasp; 25 "Protesiláus, lo! thy guide is gone! Confirm, I pray, the vision with thy voice: This is our palace, — yonder is thy throne; 30 Speak, and the floor thou tread'st on will rejoice. 35 ee Great Jove, Laodamía! doth not leave His gifts imperfect :- Spectre though I be, 40 And something also did my worth obtain ; "Thou knowest, the Delphic oracle foretold That the first Greek who touched the Trojan strand 45 A generous cause a victim did demand; And forth I leapt upon the sandy plain ; A self-devoted chief — by Hector slain." ९९ Thy matchless courage I bewail no more, Supreme of Heroes bravest, noblest, best! 50 Which then, when tens of thousands were deprest By doubt, propelled thee to the fatal shore ; Thou found'st—and I forgive thee-here thou art — "But thou, though capable of sternest deed, "No Spectre greets me, no vain Shadow this; Come, blooming Hero, place thee by my side! Give, on this well-known couch, one nuptial kiss To me, this day, a second time thy bride!" 55 60 Jove frowned in heaven: the conscious Parcæ threw 65 Upon those roseate lips a Stygian hue. "This visage tells thee that my doom is past : Nor should the change be mourned, even if the joys And surely as they vanish. Earth destroys 70 Those raptures duly- Erebus disdains: Calm pleasures there abide - majestic pains. : "Be taught, O faithful Consort, to control 75 Thy transports moderate; and meekly mourn "Ah, wherefore? — Did not Hercules by force Given back to dwell on earth in vernal bloom? 80 |