Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/43

 1820-30.] JOHN'M. HARNEY. EXTRACTS FROM " CRYSTALLNA." SYLPHS BATHING. The shores with acclamations rung, As in the flood the playful damsels sprang: Upon their beauteous bodies, with delight, The billoAvs leapt. Oh, 'twas a pleasant sight To see the waters dimple round, for joy, Climb their white necks, and on their bosoms toy : Like snowy swans they vex'd the spark- ling tide, Till little rairibows danced on every side. Some swam, some floated, some on pearly feet Stood sidelong, smiling, exquisitely sweet. TITANIA'S CONCERT. In robes of gi'een, fresh youths the concert led. Measuring the while, with nice, emphatic tread Of tinkhng sandals, the melodious sound Of smitten timbrels ; some with myrtles crown'd. Pour the smooth current of sweet melody, Through ivory tubes ; some blow the bugle free, And some, at happy intervals around. With trumps sonorous swell the tide of sound ; Some, bending raptured o'er their golden lyres, With cunning fingers fret the tuneful wires; With rosy lips some press the siren shell. And, through its crimson labyrinths, impel Melhfluous breath, with artful sink and swell. Some blow the mellow, melancholy horn, Which, save the knight, no man of woman born E'er heard and fell not senseless to the ground. With viewless fetters of enchantment bound. . . . . "Thrice had yon moon her pearly chariot driven Across the starry wilderness of heaven. In lonely grandeur; thrice the morning star Danced on the eastern hiUs before Hype- rion's car." . . . . "Deep silence reigned, so still, so deep, and dread. That they might hear the fairy's lightest tread, Might hear the spider as he wove his snare, From rock to rock." . . . . "The mountain-tops, oak-crowned, Tossed in the stonn and echoed to the sound Of trees uptorn, and thunders rolling round." . . . . "The prowlers of the wood Fled to then" caves, or, crouching with alarm. Howled at the passmg spirits of the storm ; Eye-blasting specters and bleached skele- tons With snow-white raiment and disjointed bones, Before them strode, and meteors flickering dire. Around them trailed their scintillating fire." . . . . "The feai-less songsters sing, And round me flutter Avith famihar wing. Or mid the flowers like sunbeams glance about. Sipping, with slender tongues, the dainty nectar out." . . . . "Morn ascending from the spark- ling main, Unlocked her golden magazines of light, And on the sea, and heaven's cerulean plain. Showered Uquid rubies, while reti'eating night In other climes her starred pavilion spread."