495 PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY [1792-1822] HYMN OF PAN FROM the forests and highlands We come, we come; From the river-girt islands, Where loud waves are dumb, And the lizards below in the grass, Liquid Peneus was flowing, The Sileni and Sylvans and Fauns, And the Nymphs of the woods and waves, And all that did then attend and follow, I sang of the dancing stars, I sang of the dædal earth, And of heaven, and the giant wars, 496 It breaks in our bosom, and then we bleed. HELLAS THE world's great age begins anew, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn: Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam Like wrecks of a dissolving dream. A brighter Hellas rears its mountains A new Peneus rolls his fountains Where fairer Tempes bloom, there sleep A loftier Argo cleaves the main, And loves, and weeps, and dies; O write no more the tale of Troy, If earth Death's scroll must be- Another Athens shall arise, And to remoter time Bequeath, like sunset to the skies, The splendour of its prime; 497 And leave, if naught so bright may live, Saturn and Love their long repose Shall burst, more bright and good Not gold, not blood, their altar dowers, O cease! must hate and death return? The world is weary of the past— INVOCATION RARELY, rarely comest thou, Wherefore hast thou left me now How shall ever one like me Spirit false! thou hast forgot All but those who need thee not. As a lizard with the shade Of a trembling leaf, Thou with sorrow art dismay'd; Even the sighs of grief Reproach thee, that thou art not near, And reproach thou wilt not hear. Let me set my mournful ditty Thou wilt come for pleasure;— Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay. I love all that thou lovest, The fresh Earth in new leaves drest Autumn evening, and the morn I love snow and all the forms I love waves, and winds, and storms, Which is Nature's, and may be I love tranquil solitude, As is quiet, wise, and good; What diff'rence? but thou dost possess I love Love though he has wings, But above all other things, Spirit, I love thee— Thou art love and life! O come! Make once more my heart thy home! 498 STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION NEAR Naples THE sun is warm, the sky is clear, The waves are dancing fast and bright, The breath of the moist earth is light Like many a voice of one delight— The winds', the birds', the ocean-floods'- I see the Deep's untrampled floor Like light dissolved in star-showers thrown: The lightning of the noon-tide ocean Is flashing round me, and a tone Arises from its measured motion How sweet! did any heart now share in my emotion. Alas! I have nor hope nor health, The sage in meditation found, And walk'd with inward glory crown'd- Smiling they live, and call life pleasure; Yet now despair itself is mild Even as the winds and waters are; 499 I FEAR THY KISSES I FEAR thy kisses, gentle maiden; (X) HC XLI |