LINES.

Yes, my stray steps have wander'd, wander'd far

From thee, and long, heart-soothing Poesy!

And many a flower, which in the passing time

My heart hath register'd, nipp'd by the chill

Of undeserved neglect, hath shrunk and died.

Heart-soothing Poesy! Though thou hast ceased

To hover o'er the many-voiced strings

Of my long silent lyre, yet thou canst still

Call the warm tear from its thrice hallow'd cell,

And with recalled images of bliss

Warm my reluctant heart. Yes, I would throw,

Once more would throw a quick and hurried hand

O'er the responding chords. It hath not ceased —

It cannot, will not cease; the heavenly warmth

Plays round my heart, and mantles o'er my cheek;

Still, though unbidden, plays. Fair Poesy!

The summer and the spring, the wind and rain,

Sunshine and storm, with various interchange,

Have mark'd full many a day, and week, and month.

Since by dark wood, or hamlet far retired,

Spell-struck, with thee I loiter'd. Sorceress!

I cannot burst thy bonds. It is but lift

Thy blue eyes to that deep-bespangled vault,

Wreathe thy enchanted tresses round thine arm,

And mutter some obscure and charmed rhyme,

And I could follow thee, on thy night's work,

Up to the regions of thrice chasten'd fire,

Or, in the caverns of the ocean flood,

Thrid the light mazes of thy volant foot.

Yet other duties call me, and mine ear

Must turn away from the high minstrelsy

Of thy soul-trancing harp, unwillingly

Must turn away; there are severer strains

( And surely they are sweet as ever smote

The ear of spirit, from this mortal coil

Released and disembodied ), there are strains

Forbid to all, save those whom solemn thought,

Through the probation of revolving years,

And mighty converse with the spirit of truth,

Have purged and purified. To these my soul

Aspireth; and to this sublimer end

I gird myself, and climb the toilsome steep

With patient expectation. Yea, sometimes

Foretaste of bliss rewards me; and sometimes

Spirits unseen upon my footsteps wait,

And minister strange music, which doth seem

Now near, now distant, now on high, now low,

Then swelling from all sides, with bliss complete,

And full fruition filling all the soul.

Surely such ministry, though rare, may soothe

The steep ascent, and cheat the lassitude

Of toil; and but that my fond heart

Reverts to day-dreams of the summer gone,

When by clear fountain, or embower'd brake,

I lay a listless muser, prizing, far

Above all other lore, the poet's theme;

But for such recollections I could brace

My stubborn spirit for the arduous path

Of science unregretting; eye afar

Philosophy upon her steepest height,

And with bold step and resolute attempt

Pursue her to the innermost recess,

Where throned in light she sits, the Queen of Truth.