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That, unconscious, with a sigh,

"Whence," I said, "and where am I?" And seem'd to Heaven convey'd that day. Since it pass'd, no place can please,

Save this; here only I exist in ease.

If thou wert tuneful as sincere,

Boldly might'st thou quit, my song,

The woods, and mingle with the courtly throng.

SONNET

EMBARKING ON THE PO, IN HIS WAY TO

VERONA.

WELL may'st thou bear these limbs, majestic Po,

At will, upon thy powerful, rapid waves;
But the free spirit that informs them braves
The strong compulsion of all power below,
And without need of skill, the way to show

T 2

To that bless'd branch, whose presence still it

craves,

Hastening, itself with outstretch'd pinions saves
From thee, though wind and oars their aid bestow.
Great king of rivers, proud, presumptuous stream,
That thwart'st the Sun, when he brings on the day,
And leav'st the West, though thence more ra-
diance beam;

Thou what is mortal of me may'st convey;
But all the rest (nor thou, horn'd flood, misdeem)
By Love is wing'd, and homeward takes its way.

* Of laurel, i. e. Laura.

+ The course of the Po being east, it moved towards the sun, and from Laura.

SONNET

TRAVELLING HOMEWARDS FROM ITALY, ON

THE BANKS OF THE RHONE.

O RAPID flood, that, from thy fountain hoarse, Through Alpine deserts gnawing,* whence thy

name,

Advancest, night and day, our path the same,

Where love leads me, thee only Nature's course;
Roll on (for sleep thou stay'st not, the resource
Of human Toil) and ere the ocean's claim
Thou yield, delay where greener meads proclaim,
In a serener air, Enchantment's force.

There shines my living Sun with favouring ray,
And gladdens, on thy left, the bordering flowers:
Perhaps (O chance desired!) she mourns my stay.

* Deriving it from the Latin and Italian, "rodere.

Kiss her light feet, or hand, among those bowers. Tell her (and let that kiss, like language say) My will is prompt, but tardy are my powers."*

SONNET

ON THE GRIEF OF LAURA, SUPPOSED FOR

THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER,

I SAW a simple mortal shew, at will,
Angelic graces, so endow'd alone:

The recollection dear, though sad, is grown,
Nor can aught else the mind so justly fill.
Yes; tears I saw from sparkling eyes distil,
That Sol might envy, in full lustre shewn;

And potent plaints seem'd utter'd, in a tone
To make the mountains move, and streams stand

still.

* The scriptural expression is here softened.

Grace, Feeling, Prudence, Dignity, and Grief,
Lamenting then, a sweeter concert made
Than blesses man, when Music yields relief;
And so the air by Virtue's sound was sway'd,
It was attentive all, and not a leaf,
Stirring, one moment's careless pause betray'd.

SONNET

ON A DISTINCTION SHEWN TO LAURA BY A

PRINCE, SUPPOSED TO BE CHARLES SON OF

THE KING OF BOHEMIA, AND AFTERWARDS

THE EMPEROR CHARLES THE FOURTH.

ONE of rare powers, as of a royal race,
Unclouded judgment, and a lynx's eye,
Full in whose view the future seems to lie,
Has proved how litle deeds his fame disgrace;
And, when gay dames assembled in the place
By Mirth allotted for the occasion high,

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