ODE TO BEAUTY. Thy dangerous glances Make women of men; New-born, we are melting Into nature again. Lavish, lavish promiser, Guest of million painted forms, The shining pebble of the pond, In thy momentary play, Would bankrupt nature to repay. Ah, what avails it To hide or to shun Whom the Infinite One Hath granted his throne? 137 138 ODE TO BEAUTY. The heaven high over Is the deep's lover; The sun and sea, Informed by thee, Before me run, And draw me on, As Fate refuses To me the heart Fate for me chooses. Is it that my opulent soul Was mingled from the generous whole; And the sands whereof I'm made Draw me to them, self-betrayed? Of Salvator, of Guercino, And Piranesi's lines. I hear the lofty pæans Who heard the starry music ODE TO BEAUTY. And recount the numbers well; Olympian bards who sung Divine Ideas below, Which always find us young, And always keep us so. Oft, in streets or humblest places, Which, from Eden wide astray, Thee gliding through the sea of form, Somewhat not to be caressed, No feet so fleet could ever find, Hovering over all that live, Quick and skilful to inspire Sweet, extravagant desire, Starry space and lily-bell Filling with thy roseate smell, 139 140 ODE TO BEAUTY. Wilt not give the lips to taste Of the nectar which thou hast. All that's good and great with thee Thou hast bribed the dark and lonely To report thy features only, And the cold and purple morning The leafy dell, the city mart, Equal trophies of thine art; E'en the flowing azure air And, if I languish into dreams, |