KEATS. MELANCHOLY. Written in September 1819, and published, with the four preceding odes, in the volume of 1820. I. No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine; Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kissed Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be A partner in your sorrow's mysteries; For shade to shade will come too drowsily, II. But when the melancholy fit shall fall Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave, III. She dwells with Beauty-Beauty that must die; Veiled Melancholy has her sovran shrine, Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine; His soul shall taste the sadness of her might, And be among her cloudy trophies hung. TENNYSON. TO MEMORY. "Written very early in life," but published in "Poems, chiefly Lyrical," in 1830. I. HOU who stealest fire, TH From the fountains of the past, Thou dewy dawn of memory. II. Come not as thou camest of late, Flinging the gloom of yesternight On the white day; but robed in soften'd light Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, The dew-impearled winds of dawn have kiss'd, Stays on her floating locks the lovely freight Of orient green, giving safe pledge of fruits, The black earth with brilliance rare. III. Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, Showering thy gleaned wealth into my open breast (Those peerless flowers which in the rudest wind Never grow sere, When rooted in the garden of the mind, Because they are the earliest of the year). In sweet dreams softer than unbroken rest Tho' deep not fathomless, Was cloven with the million stars which tremble O'er the deep mind of dauntless infancy. Small thought was there of life's distress; For sure she deem'd no mist of earth could dull Those spirit-thrilling eyes so keen and beautiful: Sure she was nigher to heaven's spheres, O strengthen me, enlighten me! I faint in this obscurity, Thou dewy dawn of memory. IV. Come forth, I charge thee, arise, Thou of the many tongues, the myriad eyes! Thou comest not with shows of flaunting vines Unto mine inner eye, Divinest Memory! Thou wert not nursed by the waterfall Which ever sounds and shines A pillar of white light upon the wall Of purple cliffs, aloof descried: Come from the woods that belt the gray hill-side, The seven elms, the poplars four That stand beside my father's door, And chiefly from the brook that loves The filter'd tribute of the rough woodland. |