ODE ADDRESSED TO THE EARL OF Derby, and rECITED IN THE SheldoNIAN THEATRE, Oxford, AT HIS INSTALLATION AS CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY, JUNE 1, 1853. I HAD been thinking of the antique masque Those delicate creations, full of strange And I was longing for a hand like those * Fair as that woman whom the Prophet old * 2 Esdras ix. 38. Methought I met a lady yester-even ; A passionless grief, that had nor tear nor wail, Sat on her pure proud face, that gleam'd to Heaven, White as a moonlit sail. She spake." On this pale brow are looks of youth, Yet angels, listening on the argent floor, Know that these lips have been proclaiming truth Nine hundred years and more. "And Isis knows what time-grey towers rear'd up, Gardens and groves and cloister'd halls are mine, Where quaff my sons from many a myrrhine cup Draughts of ambrosial wine. "He knows how night by night my lamps are lit, "It may be long ago my dizzied brain, Enchanted swam beneath Rome's master spell, Till like light tinctured by the painted pane Thought in her colours fell. "Yet when the great old tongue with strong effect Woke from its sepulchre across the sea, The subtler spell of Grecian intellect Work'd mightily in me. "Time pass'd—my groves were full of warlike stirs ; The student's heart was with the merry spears, Or keeping measure to the clanking spurs Of Rupert's Cavaliers. "All those long ages, like a holy mother, "And must I speak at last of sensual sleep, "Tears for the passionate hearts I might have won, "I have repented-and my glorious name Stands scutcheon'd round with blazonry more bright. The wither'd rod, the emblem of my shame, "And I have led my children on steep mountains, Up to the dark inexplicable fountains "Led them, where on the old poetic shore The flowers that change not with the changing moon Breathe round young hearts, as breathes the sycamore About the bees in June. "And I will bear them, as on eagle wings, To leave them bow'd before the sapphire throne, High o'er the haunts where dying pleasure sings With sweet and swanlike tone. "And I will lead the ages great expansions, Progressive circles toward thought's Sabbath rest, And point beyond them to the many mansions Where Christ is with the blest. "Am I not pledged who gave my bridal ring "Surely that spousal morn my chosen ones "He sleeps at last-no wind's tempestuous breath "There was no omen of a great disaster Where castled Walmer stands beside the shore; The evening clouds, like pillar'd alabaster, Hung huge and silent o'er. "The moon in brightness walk'd the fleecy rack, Walk'd up and down among the starry fires; Heaven's great cathedral was not hung with black Up to its topmost spires. "But mine own Isis kept a solemn chiming, A silver requiescat all night long, And mine old trees with all their leaves were timing The sorrow of the song. |