But on the viewless wings of Poesy, Though the dull brain perplexes and retards: And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne, Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown V. I cannot see what flowers are at my feet, Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs, The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine, VI. Darkling I listen; and for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight with no pain, Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain- VII. Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! Through the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home, Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam VIII. Forlorn! the very word is like a bell To toll me back from thee to my sole self! Was it a vision, or a waking dream? Fled is that music:-do I wake or sleen? ODE ON A GRECIAN URN. I. THOU still unravish'd bride of quietness! A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? What men or gods are these? What maidens loath? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? II. Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone : Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, III. Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; For ever piping songs for ever new ; All breathing human passion far above, IV. Who are these coming to the sacrifice? Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, Is emptied of its folk, this pious morn? Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. V. O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other wo Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty."-that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. ODE TO PSYCHE. O GODDESS! hear these tuneless numbers, wrung By sweet enforcement and remembrance dear, And pardon that thy secrets should be sung, Even into thine own soft-couched ear: Surely I dreamt to-day, or did I see The winged Psyche with awaken'd eyes? I wander'd in a forest thoughtlessly, And, on the sudden, fainting with surprise, Saw two fair creatures, couched side by side In deepest grass, beneath the whispering roof Of leaves and trembled blossoms, where there ran 'Mid hush'd, cool-rooted flowers fragrant-eyed, But who wast thou, O happy, happy dove? O latest-born and loveliest vision far Nor virgin-choir to make delicious moan No voice, no lute, no pipe, no incense sweet O brightest! though too late for antique vows, Yet even in these days so far retired |