Soft as a cloud is yon blue Ridge, the Mere Seems firm as solid crystal, breathless, clear, And motionless; and, to the gazer's eye, Deeper than ocean, in the immensity Of its vague mountains and unreal sky!...
High in the breathless Hall the Minstrel sate, And Emont's murmur mingled with the Song. The words of ancient time I thus translate, A festal strain that hath been silent long:...
Swiftly turn the murmuring wheel! Night has brought the welcome hour, When the weary fingers feel Help, as if from faery power; Dewy night o'ershades the ground; Turn the swift wheel round and round!...
Why should we weep or mourn, Angelic boy, For such thou wert ere from our sight removed, Holy, and ever dutiful beloved From day to day with never-ceasing joy, And hopes as dear as could the heart employ...
It is not to be thought of that the Flood Of British freedom, which, to the open sea Of the world's praise, from dark antiquity Hath flowed, "with pomp of waters, unwithstood,"...
She wept. Life's purple tide began to flow In languid streams through every thrilling vein; Dim were my swimming eyes, my pulse beat slow, And my full heart was swell'd to dear delicious pain....
Desponding Father! mark this altered bough, So beautiful of late, with sunshine warmed, Or moist with dews; what more unsightly now, Its blossoms shriveled, and its fruit, if formed,...
When human touch (as monkish books attest) Nor was applied nor could be, Ledbury bells Broke forth in concert flung adown the dells, And upward, high as Malvern's cloudy crest;...
While poring Antiquarians search the ground Upturned with curious pains, the Bard, a Seer, Takes fire: The men that have been reappear; Romans for travel girt, for business gowned;...
Why art thou silent! Is thy love a plant Of such weak fibre that the treacherous air Of absence withers what was once so fair? Is there no debt to pay, no boon to grant?...
The Roman Consul doomed his sons to die Who had betrayed their country. The stern word Afforded (may it through all time afford) A theme for praise and admiration high. Upon the surface of humanity...
Tenderly do we feel by Nature's law For worst offenders: though the heart will heave With indignation, deeply moved we grieve, In after thought, for Him who stood in awe Neither of God nor man, and only saw,...
This Spot, at once unfolding sight so fair Of sea and land, with yon grey towers that still Rise up as if to lord it over air Might soothe in human breasts the sense of ill,...
Is 'Death', when evil against good has fought With such fell mastery that a man may dare By deeds the blackest purpose to lay bare? Is Death, for one to that condition brought,...
Though to give timely warning and deter Is one great aim of penalty, extend Thy mental vision further and ascend Far higher, else full surely shalt thou err. What is a State? The wise behold in her...
Before the world had past her time of youth While polity and discipline were weak, The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, Came forth a light, though but as of daybreak,...
Fit retribution, by the moral code Determined, lies beyond the State's embrace, Yet, as she may, for each peculiar case She plants well-measured terrors in the road...
Ye brood of conscience Spectres! that frequent The bad Man's restless walk, and haunt his bed Fiends in your aspect, yet beneficent In act, as hovering Angels when they spread...