Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1825.pdf/56



Canova gazed on her, as tho’ he caught New being from her look; as, till that hour, Life had been like a dream, a hope, a thought, Of which till then he never knew the power; A new sense of existence to him brought The sudden opening of a summer flower; He gazed till rose the maiden to depart— She pass'd, but left her image on his heart.

This roused him from his trance, but roused to feel Another soul within him; a dim sense Of happiness, like perfume o'er him steal: They closed the gallery, and he wandered thence As if he had some treasure to conceal, (Young Love thy dreams are thy best recompense!) And left the city, hastily, to share His new-born pleasure with the sun and air.

He paused within a little nook, which seemed Made for a lover's passionate idlesse; And flung, at full length, on the turf, he dreamed His earliest dream of woman's loveliness; He had no hopes, no aims—his thoughts but gleamed Like stars, which have no end in the excess Of light they pour on the night element,— As their own beauty made their own content.