Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/42

 Not know."— But lo! I wile away Once again a summer's day, In this pleasant sylvan place, Where the alders interlace Their boughs above me, and the blue Bells and flowers of purple hue Make beautiful the lone recess With glamour of their loveliness.

—Nature for herself against All the world this valley fenced. For her own delight she wrought In sculpture her poetic thought: Then she breathed upon it, till It breathed to her again, and rill And herb and flower returned the smile Of love, that lit her face the while. How beautiful it is! How meet, For the solace of retreat! Guardian hills have charge to keep Watch around it, steep on steep, Save, to westward, where a space Opens in their green embrace, And, behind, the ocean paves The chasm with protecting waves.

Thro' the tranquil, sylvan valley Toys a streamlet musically; All too happy to haste on, Such sweet themes it dwells upon,