All creeping plants, a wall of green Close-matted, bur and brake and briar, And glimpsing over these, just seen, High up, the topmost palace-spire. 7 When will the hundred summers die, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 1 YEAR after year unto her feet, The maiden's jet-black hair has grown, On either side her tranced form Forth streaming from a braid of pearl : The slumbrous light is rich and warm, And moves not on the rounded curl. 2 The silk star-broider'd coverlid Unto her limbs itself doth mould Languidly ever; and, amid Her full black ringlets downward roll'd, Glows forth each softly-shadow'd arm With bracelets of the diamond bright: Her constant beauty doth inform Stillness with love, and day with light. 3 She sleeps her breathings are not heard : The fragrant tresses are not stirr'd THE ARRIVAL 1 ALL precious things, discover'd late, His mantle glitters on the rocks— 2 The bodies and the bones of those Or scatter'd blanching on the grass. 66 They perish'd in their daring deeds." This proverb flashes thro' his head, 66 The many fail: the one succeeds." 3 He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks : He breaks the hedge: he enters there: The colour flies into his cheeks: He trusts to light on something fair; For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whisper'd voices at his ear. 4 More close and close his footsteps wind: The quiet chamber far apart. His spirit flutters like a lark, 66 He stoops-to kiss her-on his knee. Love, if thy tresses be so dark, How dark those hidden eyes must be !" THE REVIVAL 1 A TOUCH, a kiss! the charm was snapt. A fuller light illumined all, A breeze thro' all the garden swept, 2 The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The parrot scream'd, the peacock squall'd, 3 And last with these the king awoke, And yawn'd, and rubb'd his face, and spoke, 66 How say you ? we have slept, my lords. 4 "Pardy," return'd the king, “but still In courteous words return'd reply: THE DEPARTURE 1 AND on her lover's arm she leant, Beyond their utmost purple rim, The happy princess follow'd him. 2 "I'd sleep another hundred years, O love, for such another kiss ; O wake for ever, love," she hears, 66 O love, 'twas such as this and this." And o'er them many a sliding star, And many a merry wind was borne, And, stream'd thro' many a golden bar, The twilight melted into morn. 3 " "O eyes long laid in happy sleep!" "O happy sleep, that lightly fled!" "O happy kiss, that woke thy sleep! "O love, thy kiss would wake the dead!" And o'er them many a flowing range Of vapour buoy'd the crescent-bark, And, rapt thro' many a rosy change, The twilight died into the dark. 4 66 A hundred summers! can it be? And whither goest thou, tell me where ? " VO seek my father's court with me, For there are greater wonders there." And o'er the hills, and far away Beyond their utmost purple rim, Beyond the night, across the day, Thro' all the world she follow'd him. MORAL So, Lady Flora, take my lay, What moral is in being fair. Oh, to what uses shall we put The wildweed-flower that simply blows? And is there any moral shut Within the bosom of the rose ? 2 But any man that walks the mead, According as his humours lead, A meaning suited to his mind. And liberal applications lie In Art like Nature, dearest friend; So 'twere to cramp its use, if I Should hook it to some useful end. L'ENVOI 1 You shake your head. A random string Your finer female sense offends. Well-were it not a pleasant thing To fall asleep with all one's friends; To pass with all our social ties To silence from the paths of men ; And every hundred years to rise And learn the world, and sleep again; To sleep thro' terms of mighty wars, And wake on science grown to more, On secrets of the brain, the stars, As wild as aught of fairy lore; In divers seasons, divers climes; 2 So sleeping, so aroused from sleep Thro' sunny decads new and strange, Or gay quinquenniads would we reap The flower and quintessence of change. 3 Ah, yet would I—and would I might! That I might kiss those eyes awake! To choose your own you did not care; You'd have my moral from the song, And I will take my pleasure there: And, am I right or am I wrong, My fancy, ranging thro' and thro', To search a meaning for the song, Perforce will still revert to you; |