Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/747

 PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

Liquid Peneus was flowing, And all dark Tempe lay In Pelion's shadow, outgrowing

The light of the dying day, Speeded by my sweet pipings.

The Sileni and Sylvans and Fauns,

And the Nymphs of the woods and waves, To the edge of the moist river-lawns, And the brink of the dewy caves, And all that did then attend and follow, Were silent with love, as you now, Apollo, With envy of my sweet pipings.

I sang of the dancing stars,

I sang of the d.cdal earth, And of heaven, and the giant wars,

And love, and death, and birth. And then I changed my pipings

Singing how down the vale of Msenalus

1 pursued a maiden, and clasp'd a reed: Gods and men, we are all deluded thus,

It breaks in our bosom, and then we bleed. All wept as I think both ye now would, If envy or age had not frozen your blood At the sorrow of my sweet pipings.

��The Invitation

BEST and brightest, come away! Fairer far than this fair Day, Which, like thee to those in sorrow, Comes to bid a sweet good-morrow

�� �