The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 140

6.

The crane o'er seas and forests seeks her home; No bird so wild but has its quiet nest, When it no more would roam; The sleepless billows on the ocean's breast Break like a bursting heart, and die in foam, _45 And thus at length find rest: Doubtless there is a place of peace Where MY weak heart and all its throbs will cease.

7.

I asked her, yesterday, if she believed That I had resolution. One who HAD _50 Would ne'er have thus relieved His heart with words,--but what his judgement bade Would do, and leave the scorner unrelieved.

These verses are too sad To send to you, but that I know, _55 Happy yourself, you feel another's woe.

NOTES: _10 Indifference, which once hurt me, is now grown Trelawny ma.n.u.script.

_18 Dear friends, dear friend Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; Dear gentle friend 1834, 1839, 1st edition.

_26 ever]lately Trelawny ma.n.u.script.

_28 in Trelawny ma.n.u.script; on 1834, editions 1839, _43 When 1839, 2nd edition; Whence 1834, 1839, 1st edition.

_48 will 1839, 2nd edition; shall 1834, 1839, 1st edition.

_53 unrelieved Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd. edition; unreprieved 1834, 1839, 1st edition.

_54 are]were Trelawny ma.n.u.script.

TO --.

[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]

1.

One word is too often profaned For me to profane it, One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it; One hope is too like despair _5 For prudence to smother, And pity from thee more dear Than that from another.

2.

I can give not what men call love, But wilt thou accept not _10 The wors.h.i.+p the heart lifts above And the Heavens reject not,-- The desire of the moth for the star, Of the night for the morrow, The devotion to something afar _15 From the sphere of our sorrow?

TO --.

[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.

There is a Bos...o...b.. ma.n.u.script.]

1.

When pa.s.sion's trance is overpast, If tenderness and truth could last, Or live, whilst all wild feelings keep Some mortal slumber, dark and deep, I should not weep, I should not weep! _5

2.

It were enough to feel, to see, Thy soft eyes gazing tenderly, And dream the rest--and burn and be The secret food of fires unseen, Couldst thou but be as thou hast been, _10

3.

After the slumber of the year The woodland violets reappear; All things revive in field or grove, And sky and sea, but two, which move And form all others, life and love. _15

NOTE: _15 form Bos...o...b.. ma.n.u.script; for editions 1824, 1839.

A BRIDAL SONG.

[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]

1.

The golden gates of Sleep unbar Where Strength and Beauty, met together, Kindle their image like a star In a sea of gla.s.sy weather!

Night, with all thy stars look down,-- _5 Darkness, weep thy holiest dew,-- Never smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true.

Let eyes not see their own delight;-- Haste, swift Hour, and thy flight _10 Oft renew.

2.

Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her!

Holy stars, permit no wrong!

And return to wake the sleeper, Dawn,--ere it be long! _15 O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun!

Come along!

EPITHALAMIUM.

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING.

[Published by Medwin, "Life of Sh.e.l.ley", 1847.]

Night, with all thine eyes look down!

Darkness shed its holiest dew!

When ever smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true?

Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, _5 Lest eyes see their own delight!

Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew.

BOYS: O joy! O fear! what may be done In the absence of the sun? _10 Come along!

The golden gates of sleep unbar!

When strength and beauty meet together, Kindles their image like a star In a sea of gla.s.sy weather. _15 Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight!

Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew.

GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what may be done _20 In the absence of the sun?

Come along!

Fairies! sprites! and angels, keep her!

Holiest powers, permit no wrong!

And return, to wake the sleeper, _25 Dawn, ere it be long.

Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight!

Hence, coy hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. _30

BOYS AND GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun?

Come along!

NOTE: _17 Lest]Let 1847.