Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/205
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Spring Flowers.
The loveliest flowers the closest cling to earth,
And they first feel the sun: so violets blue,
So the soft star-like primrose, drenched in dew,
The happiest of Spring's happy fragrant birth.
To gentlest touches sweetest tones reply:
Still humbleness, with her low-breathed voice,
Can steal o'er man's proud heart, and win his choice
From earth to heaven with mightier witchery
Than eloquence or wisdom e'er could own.
Bloom on, then, in your shade, contented bloom,
Sweet flowers, nor deem yourselves to all unknown.
Heaven knows you, by whose gales and dews ye thrive;
They know, who one day for their altered doom
Shall thank you, taught by you to abase themselves and live.
And they first feel the sun: so violets blue,
So the soft star-like primrose, drenched in dew,
The happiest of Spring's happy fragrant birth.
To gentlest touches sweetest tones reply:
Still humbleness, with her low-breathed voice,
Can steal o'er man's proud heart, and win his choice
From earth to heaven with mightier witchery
Than eloquence or wisdom e'er could own.
Bloom on, then, in your shade, contented bloom,
Sweet flowers, nor deem yourselves to all unknown.
Heaven knows you, by whose gales and dews ye thrive;
They know, who one day for their altered doom
Shall thank you, taught by you to abase themselves and live.
The Forester.
"Forester! leave thy woodland range,
And hie thee hence with me;
For brighter scenes and pleasures strange,
Forsake thy greenwood tree.
Come, gather thy cloak above the knee,
And take thy tall staff down,
I'll show thee what delights they be
That dwell in tower and town."
And hie thee hence with me;
For brighter scenes and pleasures strange,
Forsake thy greenwood tree.
Come, gather thy cloak above the knee,
And take thy tall staff down,
I'll show thee what delights they be
That dwell in tower and town."
"Nay, stranger, check thy bright bay steed,
To sojourn with me here,
And turn him forth at large to feed,
Amongst these dappled deer:
And thou, while summer skies are clear,
Within my greenwood bower,
Shalt scorn the pleasures once so dear,
That dwell in town and tower."
To sojourn with me here,
And turn him forth at large to feed,
Amongst these dappled deer:
And thou, while summer skies are clear,
Within my greenwood bower,
Shalt scorn the pleasures once so dear,
That dwell in town and tower."
"Well may I find a better home,
My steed a warmer stall;
I know full many a lordly dome,
Full many a palace-hall:
Where stately rows of columns tall,
The fretted roof sustain,
Then, forester, yield thee to my call,
And follow me o'er the plain."
My steed a warmer stall;
I know full many a lordly dome,
Full many a palace-hall:
Where stately rows of columns tall,
The fretted roof sustain,
Then, forester, yield thee to my call,
And follow me o'er the plain."