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STANZAS.

Written in my pocket copy of Thomson's "Castle of
Indolence."

WITHIN Our happy castle there dwelt one
Whom without blame I may not overlook;
For never sun on living creature shone
Whom more devout enjoyment with us took :
Here on his hours he hung as on a book;
On his own time here would he float away,

As doth a fly upon a summer brook;

But go to-morrow- —or belike to-day

Seek for him, he is fled; and whither none can say.

Thus often would he leave our peaceful home,
And find elsewhere his business or delight;

Out of our valley's limits did he roam :

Full many a time, upon a stormy night,

His voice came to us from the neighbouring height :
Oft did we see him driving full in view,

At mid-day, when the sun was shining bright;
What ill was on him, what he had to do,
A mighty wonder bred among our quiet crew.

Ah! piteous sight it was to see this man
When he came back to us, a wither'd flower,
Or like a sinful creature, pale and wan.

Down would he sit; and without strength or power
Look at the common grass from hour to hour:

And oftentimes, how long I fear to say,
Where apple-trees in blossom made a bower,
Retired in that sunshiny shade he lay ;
And, like a naked Indian, slept himself away.

Great wonder to our gentle tribe it was
Whenever from our valley he withdrew;
For happier soul no living creature has
Than he had, being here the long day through.
Some thought he was a lover, and did woo :

Some thought far worse of him, and judged him wrong:

But verse was what he had been wedded to;

And his own mind did like a tempest strong

Come to him thus, and drove the weary wight along.

With him there often walked in friendly guise,

Or lay upon the moss by brook or tree,
A noticable man with large gray eyes,
And a pale face that seemed undoubtedly
As if a blooming face it ought to be;
Heavy his low-hung lip did oft appear,
Depressed by weight of musing phantasy;
Profound his forehead was, though not severe;

Yet some did think that he had little business here:

Sweet heaven forefend! his was a lawful right;
Noisy he was, and gamesome as a boy;

His limbs would toss about him with delight
Like branches when strong winds the trees annoy.
Nor lacked his calmer hours device or toy
To banish listlessness and irksome care;

He would have taught you how you might employ

Yourself; and many did to him repair,—
And, certes, not in vain; he had inventions rare.

Expedients, too, of simplest sort he tried :
Long blades of grass, plucked round him as he lay,
Made-to his ear attentively applied—

A pipe on which the wind would deftly play—
Glasses he had, that little things display,-
The beetle with his radiance manifold,

A mailed angel on a battle-day;

And cups of flowers, and herbage green and gold : And all the gorgeous sights which fairies do behold.

He would entice that other man to hear
His music and to view his imagery:

And, sooth, these two did love each other dear
As far as love in such a place could be;
There did they dwell-from earthly labour free,
As happy spirits as were ever seen :

If but a bird, to keep them company,

Or butterfly sate down, they were, I ween,

As pleased as if the same had been a maiden queen.

"STRANGE FITS OF PASSION I HAVE KNOWN."

STRANGE fits of passion I have known :

And I will dare to tell,

But in the lover's ear alone,

What once to me befell.

When she I loved was strong and gay,

And like a rose in June,

I to her cottage bent my way,

Beneath the evening moon.

Upon the moon I fixed my eye,

All over the wide lea:

My horse trudged on-and we drew nigh

Those paths so dear to me.

And now we reached the orchard plot ;

And, as we climbed the hill,

Towards the roof of Lucy's cot

The moon descended still.

In one of those sweet dreams I slept,

Kind Nature's gentlest boon!

And, all the while, my eyes I kept

On the descending moon.

My horse moved on; hoof after hoof
He raised and never stopped :

When down behind the cottage roof,
At once the bright moon dropped.

What fond and wayward thoughts will slide

Into a lover's head !—

"O mercy!" to myself I cried,

"If Lucy should be dead !"

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