Poems on Several Occasions

With heavy head, and thyrsus held askew,
The Youths, in scorn, had dull Silenus placed,
And o'er him "King of Topers" they had traced.
Yet but a King of Sleep he seemed at best,
With wine-bag cheeks that bulged upon his breast,
And vat-like paunch distent from his carouse.
Meanwhile, his ass, by no respect represt,
Munched at the wreath upon her Master's brows.

BERYL.

(The Sirens.)

LASTLY, with" Pleasure" was a Beryl graven, Clear-hued, divine. Thereon the Sirens sung. What time, beneath, by rough rock-bases caven, And jaw-like rifts where many a green bone clung, The strong flood-tide, in-rushing, coiled and

swung.

Then, in the offing, on the lift of the sea,

A tall ship drawing shoreward—helplessly.
For, from the prow, e'en now the rowers leap
Headlong, nor seek from that sweet fate to
flee...

Ah me, those Women-witches of the Deep!

VOL. I.-13

THE SICK MAN AND THE BIRDS.

SPRING,

EÆGROTUS.

art thou come, O Spring!

I am too sick for words;

How hast thou heart to sing,

O Spring, with all thy birds?

MERULA.

I sing for joy to see again

The merry leaves along the lane,
The little bud grown ripe;

And look, my love upon the bough!
Hark, how she calleth to me now,
"Pipe! pipe!"

ÆGROTUS.

Ah! weary is the sun :

Love is an idle thing;
But, Bird, thou restless one,
What ails thee, wandering?

HIRUNDO.

By shore and sea I come and go

To seek I know not what; and lo!

On no man's eaves I sit

But voices bid me rise once more,
To flit again by sea and shore, -
Flit! Flit!

ÆGROTUS.

This is Earth's bitter cup:
Only to seek, not know.
But Thou, that strivest up,
Why dost thou carol so?

ALAUDA.

A secret Spirit gifteth me
With song, and wing that lifteth me,
A Spirit for whose sake,
Striving amain to reach the sky,
Still to the old dark earth I cry,