Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/771

 JOHN KEATS

And as I sat, over the light blue hills There came a noise of revellers the rills Into the wide stream came of purple hue

'Twas Bacchus and his crew' The earnest trumpet spake, and silver thrills From kissing cymbals made a merry din

Like to a moving vintage down they came, Crown J d with green leaves, and faces all on flame; All madly dancing through the pleasant valley,
 * Twas Bacchus and his kin*

To scare thee, Melancholy' O then, O then, thou wast a simple name' And I forgot thee, as the berried holly By shepherds is forgotten, when in June Tall chestnuts keep away the sun and moon:

I rush'd into the folly'

Within his car, aloft, yonng Bacchus stood, Trifling his ivy-dart, in dancing mood,

With sidelong laughing; And little rills of crimson wine imbrued His plump white arms and shoulders, enough white

For Venus' pearly bite; And near him rode Silcnus on his ass, Pelted with flowers as he on did pass

Tipsily quaffing.

'Whence came ye, merry Damsels' whence came ye, So many, and so many, and such glcc ? Why have ye left your bowers desolate,

Your lutes, and gentler fate?' c We follow Bacchus' Bacchus on the wing,

A-conquering '

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