APRIL. THE April winds are magical The hedge is gemmed with diamonds, The air with Cupids full, The cobweb clues of Rosamond Each dimple in the water, Each leaf that shades the rock 220 MAIDEN SPEECH OF THE EOLIAN HARP. MAIDEN SPEECH OF THE EOLIAN HARP. SOFT and softlier hold me, friends! Unbind and give me to the air. For flute or spinet's dancing chips; I ask more or not so much: Give me to the atmosphere, Where is the wind, my brother, — where? Lend me your ears, and I begin. For gentle harp to gentle hearts The secret of the world imparts; And not to-day and not to-morrow Can drain its wealth of hope and sorrow; Unlocks new sense and loftier cheer. I've come to live with you, sweet friends, And charm the anguish of the worst. CUPIDO. THE solid, solid universe Is pervious to Love; With bandaged eyes he never errs, Around, below, above. His blinding light He flingeth white On God's and Satan's brood, And reconciles By mystic wiles The evil and the good. THE PAST. THE debt is paid, The verdict said, The Furies laid, The plague is stayed, All fortunes made; Turn the key and bolt the door, Sweet is death forevermore. Nor haughty hope, nor swart chagrin, Nor murdering hate, can enter in. All is now secure and fast; Not the gods can shake the Past; Bolted down forevermore. None can re-enter there, No thief so politic, No Satan with a royal trick Steal in by window, chink, or hole, THE LAST FAREWELL. LINES WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR'S BROTHER, EDWARD BLISS EMERSON, WHILST SAILING OUT OF BOSTON HARBOR, BOUND FOR THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO, IN 1832. FAREWELL, ye lofty spires That cheered the holy light! That broke the gloom of night! Too soon by ocean tost From hearth and home away, Farewell the busy town, The wealthy and the wise, Her unremembering prow Far away, far away. Farewell, my mother fond, The winged vessel flies, Farewell, my brothers true, Together sad or gay, Rude ocean doth us part; We separate to-day, Far away, far away. Farewell I breathe again To dim New England's shore ; For thee and thine I pray; |