The Rosary, and Other Poems

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ... an orb Of silent star was sweetly glassed In the moonless midnights past. And with expectation vain Couched upon yon marshy plain, Oft the valley's ear hath grieved, Of her music thus bereaved, And the interchange once brought her Of broken fall and sleeping water. Now along the banks I roam, Soon to leave my mountain-home, And the melancholy thought Hath an inward shadow wrought, From beneath whose covert, hills, Wintry woods and frothy rills, And the lake-like meads appear To my spirit doubly dear And doubly beautiful; arrayed In a vivid light and shade So strangely palpable, one might Deem the old habitual light A visionary landscape worn By the true hills, a mask now torn From the jealous face of things By the strength of sorrow; springs Of a tender sadness, shy Of all outward sympathy, Have the truthful gaze renewed And the keenness of the mood Wherewith I, a stranger, first In these natural pageants nursed Inwardly the dubious strife Whence chance and purpose drew the life Of poetry: --and from the skies And mountains, or my mental eyes, c Scales seem to fall, and wondrous light Dawns, like day, while to my sight Are, like a revelation, given A sweeter Earth, a plainer Heaven! By this empty bed I mourn, Where the stream was wont to turn With a blyther, louder strain Further o'er the rushy plain Its tripping waters; and I hear A voice to warn, a voice to cheer, Like a double echo, sigh Up the channel green and dry. Still within this meadow-reach Thou hast gentle lore to teach, Studious River! nor art thou Mute in thy dishonor now. But thou hast a parting word Which my soul doth well to hoard As a monitory token Of a love so long unbroken, A serious earnest of that tie Of poetic amity Which hath been twixt thee and me. Preach on, sweet Rothay I while I ..