As shepherd's lamp on far hill side, So didst thou quarry and unlock Now deceived thou wanderest And my kindred come to soothe me, He is come through fragrant wood, Drugged with spice from climates warm, And in every twinkling glade, And twilight nook, Unveils thy form: Out of the forest way Forth paced it yesterday, And, when I sat by the water-course, Watching the daylight fade, It throbbed up from the brook. River, and rose, and crag, and bird, Frost, and sun, and eldest night To me their aid preferred, To me their comfort plight: And with this hint be wise, G The chains of kind The distant bind : Deed thou doest, she must do, Above her will, be true; And, in her strict resort To winds and waterfalls, And autumn's sun-lit festivals, To music, and to music's thought, Inextricably bound, She shall find thee, and be found. Follow not her flying feet, Come to us herself to meet.' ODE. I. INITIAL LOVE. VENUS, when her son was lost, Cried him up and down the coast, And told the truant by his marks, Golden curls, and quiver, and bow ; This befel long ago. Time and tide are strangely changed, Men and manners much deranged; By this foolish antique patent. He came late along the waste, Shod like a traveller for haste, With malice dared me to proclaim him, That the maids and boys might name him. Boy no more, he wears all coats, Frocks, and blouses, capes, capôtes, He bears no bow, or quiver, or wand, Nor chaplet on his head or hand : Leave his weeds and heed his eyes, All the rest he can disguise. In the pit of his eyes a spark Would bring back day if it were dark, In those unfathomable orbs Every function he absorbs; He doth eat, and drink, and fish, and shoot, And write, and reason, and compute, And ride, and run, and have, and hold, And whine, and flatter, and regret, And kiss, and couple, and beget, By those roving eye-balls bold; They are his steeds and not his feature, Inquisitive, and fierce, and fasting, Restless, predatory, hasting, And they pounce on other eyes, As lions on their prey; And round their circles is writ Plainer than the day, Underneath, within, above, Love, love, love, love. He lives in his eyes, There doth digest, and work, and spin, Yet holds he them with tortest rein, The glance that to their glance opposes, He palmistry can understand, As if it were a living root; The pulse of hands will make him mute; With all his force he gathers balms Into those wise thrilling palms. Cupid is a casuist, A mystic, and a cabalist, Can your lurking Thought surprise, And interpret your device; Mainly versed in occult science, Oft he keeps his fine ear strained, |