AUTUMN. THE Autumn is old, The vintage is ripe, The year's in the wane, And the day has no morning;- The rivers run chill, The red sun is sinking, And life is fast shrinking;- SONG. FOR MUSIC. I. A LAKE and a fairy boat To sail in the moonlight clear, And merrily we would float From the dragons that watch us here; II. Thy gown should be snow-white silk, III. Red rubies should deck thy hands, And diamonds should be thy dow'rBut Fairies have broke their wands, And wishing has lost its pow'r! SONG. I. THE stars are with the voyager The moon is constant to her time; But follow, follow round the world, may be. II. Wherever he may be, the stars Will shine when he's away; So that dull night is never night, King of the tuneful lyre. Still poets' hymns to thee belong; Whereon of old Thy beams all turn'd to worshipping and song! III. Lord of the dreadful bow, None triumph now for Python's death; From hungry grave The life that hangs upon a summer breath. IV. Father of rosy day, No more thy clouds of incense rise; But waking flow'rs At morning hours, Give out their sweets to meet thee in the skies. V. God of the Delphic fane, No more thou listenest to hymns sublime; But they will leave On winds at eve, A solemn echo to the end of time. TO A COLD BEAUTY. I. LADY, wouldst thou heiress be To Winter's cold and cruel part? When he sets the rivers free, Thou dost still lock up thy heart;Thou that shouldst outlast the snow, But in the whiteness of thy brow? II. Scorn and cold neglect are made III. When the little buds unclose, Red, and white, and pied, and blue, Wilt thou lock thy bosom up IV. Let not cold December sit Thus in Love's peculiar throne;— Brooklets are not prison'd now, But crystal frosts are all agone, And that which hangs upon the spray, It is no snow, but flower of May! RUTH. SHE stood breast high amid the corn, On her cheek an autumn flush, Round her eyes her tresses fell, And her hat, with shady brim, Sure, I said, heav'n did not mean, THE SEA OF DEATH. A FRAGMENT. Methought I saw Life swiftly treading over endless space; |