TH THE SUNSET. HERE late was one within whose subtle being, As light and wind within some delicate cloud That fades amid the blue noon's burning sky, Genius and death contended. None may know The sweetness of the joy which made his breath Fail like the trances of the summer air, When, with the lady of his love, who then First knew the unreserve of mingled being, He walked along the pathway of a field, Which to the east a hoar wood shadowed o'er, But to the west was open to the sky. There now the sun had sunk; but lines of gold Hung on the ashen clouds, and on the points Of the far level grass and nodding flowers, And the old dandelion's hoary beard, And, mingled with the shades of twilight, lay On the brown massy woods-and in the east The broad and burning moon lingeringly rose Between the black trunks of the crowded trees, While the faint stars were gathering overhead."Is it not strange, Isabel," said the youth, "I never saw the sun? We will walk here To-morrow; thou shalt look on it with me." That night the youth and lady mingled lay Her eyelashes were torn away with tears, Her lips and cheeks were like things dead-so pale ; Her hands were thin, and through their wandering veins And weak articulations might be seen Day's ruddy light. The tomb of thy dead self "Inheritor of more than earth can give, Oh! that, like thine, mine epitaph were-Peace!" Bishopgate, Spring 1816. 1. HYMN TO INTELLECTUAL BEAUTY. HE awful shadow of some unseen Power Floats, though unseen, among us; visiting This various world with as inconstant wing As summer winds that creep from flower to flower. Like moonbeams that behind some piny mountain shower, It visits with inconstant glance Each human heart and countenance; Like aught that for its grace may be 2. Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Weaves rainbows o'er yon mountain river; Such gloom; why man has such a scope For love and hate, despondency and hope! 3. No voice from some sublimer world hath ever To sage or poet these responses given : Therefore the names of Demon, Ghost, and Heaven, Remain the records of their vain endeavour; Frail spells, whose uttered charm might not avail to [sever, Thy light alone, like mist o'er mountains driven, Through strings of some still instrument, 4. Love, hope, and self-esteem, like clouds depart And come for some uncertain moments lent. Man were immortal and omnipotent, Didst thou, unknown and awful as thou art, Keep with thy glorious train firm state within his heart. Thou inessenger of sympathies That wax and wane in lovers' eyes! Thou that to human thought art nourishment, Depart not as thy shadow came : Depart not, lest the grave should be, Like life and fear, a dark reality! 5. While yet a boy, I sought for ghosts, and sped Through many a listening chamber, cave, and ruin, And starlight wood, with fearful steps pursuing Hopes of high talk with the departed dead. I called on poisonous names with which our youth is fed. I was not heard, I saw them not; When musing deeply on the lot Of life, at that sweet time when winds are wooing Sudden thy shadow fell on me I shrieked, and clasped my hands in ecstasy ! 6. I vowed that I would dedicate my powers To thee and thine: have I not kept the vow? With beating heart and streaming eyes, even now I called the phantoms of a thousands hours Each from his voiceless grave. They have in visioned bowers Of studious zeal or love's delight Out watched with me the envious night: That thou, O awful Loveliness, Wouldst give whate'er these words cannot express. 7. The day becomes more solemn and serene When noon is past; there is a harmony In autumn, and a lustre in its sky, Which through the summer is not heard nor seen. As if it could not be, as if it had not been. Thus let thy power, which like the truth |