Here the wren of softest note

Builds its nest and warbles well; Here the blackbird strains his throat; Welcome, LADIES! to our cell.

II.

When fades the moon all shadowy-pale
And scuds the cloud before the gale,
Ere Morn with living gems bedight
Purples the East with streaky light,
We sip the furze-flower's fragrant dews
Clad in robes of rainbow hues :
Or sport amid the rosy gleam
Soothed by the distant-tinkling team,
While lusty Labour scouting sorrow
Bids the Dame a glad good-morrow,
Who jogs the accustomed road along,
And paces cheery to her cheering song.

III.

But not our filmy pinion

We scorch amid the blaze of day, When Noontide's fiery-tressed minion Flashes the ferved ray.

Aye from the sultry heat

We to the cave retreat

O'ercanopied by huge roots intertwined

With wildest texture, blackened o'er with age: Round them their mantle green the ivies bind, Beneath whose foliage pale

Fanned by the unfrequent gale

We shield us from the Tyrant's mid-day rage.

IV.

Thither, while the murmuring throng
Of wild-bees hum their drowsy song,
By Indolence and Fancy brought,
A youthful BARD, "unknown to Fame,"
Wooes the Queen of Solemn Thought,
And heaves the gentle misery of a sigh
Gazing with tearful eye,

As round our sandy grot appear
Many a rudely sculptured name
To pensive Memory dear!

Weaving gay dreams of sunny-tinctured hue
We glance before his view:

O'er his hush'd soul our soothing witcheries shed
And twine our faery garlands round his head.

V.

When EVENING's dusky car

Crowned with her dewy star

Steals o'er the fading sky in shadowy flight;
On leaves of aspen trees

We tremble to the breeze

Veiled from the grosser ken of mortal sight.
Or, haply, at the visionary hour,

Along our wildly-bowered sequestered walk,
We listen to the enamoured rustic's talk;

Heave with the heavings of the maiden's breast,
Where young eyed Loves have built their turtle nest;
Or guide of soul-subduing power

The electric flash, that from the melting eye
Darts the fond question and the soft reply.

VI.

Or through the mystic ringlets of the vale
We flash our faery feet in gamesome prank;
Or, silent-sandal'd, pay our defter court
Circling the SPIRIT of the WESTERN GALE,
Where wearied with his flower-caressing sport,
Supine he slumbers on a violet bank;

Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam
By lonely OTTER's sleep-persuading stream;

Or where his wave with loud unquiet song
Dashed o'er the rocky channel froth along;
Or where, his silver waters smoothed to rest,
The tall tree's shadow sleeps upon his breast.

VII.

Hence thou lingerer, LIGHT!
EVE saddens into NIGHT.

Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view
The SOMBRE HOURS, that round thee stand
With down-cast eyes (a duteous band!)
Their dark robes dripping with the heavy dew.
SORCERESS of the ebon throne!

Thy power the PIXIES Own,
When round thy raven brow
Heaven's lucent roses glow,

And clouds in watery colours drest,

Float in light drapery o'er thy sable vest:

What time the pale moon sheds a softer day Mellowing the woods beneath its pensive beam: For mid the quivering light 'tis our's to play, Aye dancing to the cadence of the stream.

VIII.

Welcome, LADIES! to the cell

Where the blameless PIXIES dwell:

But thou, sweet Nymph! proclaimed our Faery Queen,

With what obeisance meet

Thy presence shall we greet?
For lo! attendant on thy steps are seen
Graceful EASE in artless stole,

And white-robed PURITY of soul,
With HONOUR's softer mien ;

MIRTH of the loosely-flowing hair,
And meek eyed PITY eloquently fair,
Whose tearful cheeks are lovely to the view,
As snow-drop wet with dew.

IX.

Unboastful Maid! though now the LILY pale
Transparent grace thy beauties meek;
Yet ere again along the impurpling vale,
The purpling vale and elfin-haunted grove,
Young Zephyr his fresh flowers profusely throws,
We'll tinge with livelier hues thy cheek;
And, haply, from the nectar-breathing Rose
Extract a BLUSH for LOVE!