IV. Now the white violet decks the mead, The dew-besprent Narcissus blows, And on the verdant mountain's head The wildly scattered lily grows; Each loveliest child of Summer throws Her fragrance to the sunny hour, But Julia's opening lips disclose Divine Persuasion's fairer flower. Meadows, why do you smile in vain In robe of green and garlands gay? When Julia moves along the plain, She wears a sweeter charm than they. V. Hush'd is the howl of wintry breezes wild; Adventurous seamen spread th' embosomed sail O'er waves light-heaving to the western gale; While village-youths their brows with ivy twine, And hail with song the promise of the vine. In curious cells the bees digest their spoil, When vernal sunshine animates their toil, And little birds, in warblings sweet and clear, Salute thee, Maia, loveliest of the year: Thee, on their deeps, the tuneful halcyons hail, In streams the swan, in woods the nightingale. If earth rejoices, with new verdure gay, And shepherds pipe, and flocks exulting play, And sailors roam, and Bacchus leads his throng, And bees to toil, and birds awake to song, Shall the glad bard be mute in tuneful Spring, And, warm with love and joy, forget to sing? See Note 4. FROM ARCHILOCHUS. Oh Pericles! in vain the feast is spread: See Note 5. FROM SAPPHO. TO AN ILLITERATE WOMAN. Unknown, unheeded, shalt thou die, For never to the Muse's bowers Nor ever intertwine the flowers That Fancy strews unnumber'd there. Doom'd o'er that dreary realm, alone, Shunned by the gentler shades, to go, Nor friend shall soothe, nor parent own The child of sloth, the Muse's foe.. See Nole 6. FROM ERINNE. I mark the spot where Julia's ashes lie: Changed for the sighs of woe, and groans of deep dismay. See Notes 7, 8. |