Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1823.pdf/6



Here's many a youth with radiant brow Darkened by raven curls like thine, Beauty, whose smile burns even now, And love-tales made by song divine: And these have been the guardian powers To words as sweet as summer flowers.

I’ll tell thee now the history Of these sweet shapes: they are so dear, Each has been on a scroll from thee; Thy kiss, thy sigh, are glowing here: They'll be the spirit of each tone I fain would wake from chords long gone.

Just glimpses of the fairest dreams I've had when in a hot noon sleeping, Or those diviner, wilder gleams When I some starry watch was keeping; And sometimes those bright waves of thought Only from lips like thine, Love, caught.

Oh dear, these lights from the old world, So redolent with love and song! Those radiant gods, now downward hurled From the bright thrones they held so long! But they have power that cannot die Over the heart's eternity.