Heard her within their slumbers, the abyss And every beast stretched in its rugged cave, Itself how low, how high beyond all height The heaven where it would perish!-and every form Was awed into delight, and by the charm Whilst that sweet bird, whose music was a storm Of sound, shook forth the dull oblivion And so this man returned with axe and saw With jagged leaves, and from the forest tops Nature's pure tears which have no bitterness;- They spread themselves into the loveliness Of fan-like leaves, and over pallid flowers Hang like moist clouds:-or, where high branches kiss, Make a green space among the silent bowers, Surrounded by the columns and the towers Odours and gleams and murmurs, which the lute Stirs as it sails, now grave and now acute, Wakening the leaves and waves, ere it has past One accent never to return again. The world is full of Woodmen who expel 55 60 65 FRAGMENT OF AN ADDRESS TO BYRON. O MIGHTY mind, in whose deep stream this age FRAGMENT TO SILENCE. SILENCE! O well are Death and Sleep and Thou VOL II. M To track along the lapses of the air FRAGMENT. THE fierce beasts of the woods and wildernesses Track not the steps of him who drinks of it; For the light breezes, which for ever fleet Around its margin, heap the sand thereon. FRAGMENT. My head is wild with weeping for a grief To seek, or haply, if I sought, to find; It came unsought);-to wonder that a chief Among men's spirits should be cold and blind. FRAGMENT. FLOURISHING vine, whose kindling clusters glow SCENE FROM "TASSO." MADDALO, a Courtier. MALPIGLIO, a Poet. PIGNA, a Minister. MADDALO. No access to the Duke! You have not said That the Count Maddalo would speak with him? PIGNA. Did you inform his Grace that Signor Pigna MALPIGLIO. The Lady Leonora cannot know That I have written a sonnet to her fame, Venus and Adonis. You should not take my gold and serve me not. ALBANO. In truth I told her, and she smiled and said, "If I am Venus, thou, coy Poesy Art the Adonis whom I love, and he The Erymanthian boar that wounded him." O trust to me, Signor Malpiglio, Those nods and smiles were favours worth the zechin. MALPIGLIO. The words are twisted in some double sense That I reach not: the smiles fell not on me. PIGNA. How are the Duke and Duchess occupied? ALBANO. Buried in some strange talk. The Duke was leaning, Her hands were clasped, veinèd, and pale as snow, MADDALO. 10 15 20 Thou seest on whom from thine own worshipped heaven Thou drawest down smiles-they did not rain on thee. MALPIGLIO. Would they were parching lightnings for his sake SONG FOR "TASSO." I. I LOVED-alas! our life is love; But when we cease to breathe and move 24 I do suppose love ceases too. I thought, but not as now I do, II. And still I love and still I think, And if I think, my thoughts come fast, III. Sometimes I see before me flee A silver spirit's form, like thee, Still watching it, Till by the grated casement's ledge MARENGHI, I. LET those who pine in pride or in revenge, II. A massy tower yet overhangs the town, A scattered group of ruined dwellings now. III. Another scene ere wise Etruria knew Its second ruin through internal strife, And tyrants through the breach of discord threw The chain which binds and kills. As death to life, |