Page:Modern poets and poetry of Spain.djvu/327

Rh 'T is sweet to break with sounding prow the wave Of the dark surging sea, which shows behind A lengthen'd streak of light the current gave. 'T is sweet to bound where lofty mountains wind, Or on thy steed to scour along the plain; But sweeter to my fiery soul 't is far- To feel myself whirFd forward in the train Of thy wild torrent, and as with a star The brow decked proudly, hear thy oracles Divine; and to repeat them, as of old Greece listened mute to those from Delphic cells The favour'd priestess of Apollo told; While she with sacred horror would unfold The words prophetic, trembling to refer To the consuming god that frenzied her. There is of life a spirit that pervades The universe divine: 't is he who shades All Nature's loveliest scenes with majesty, And glory greater: beauty's self 't is he, Who robes with radiant mantle, and endows Her eye w T ith language eloquent, while flows Soft music from her voice; 't is he who lends To her the magic irresistible, And fatal, which her smile and look attends, Making men mad and drunk beneath her spell.