27.12.2010, 17:22
ON A PICTURE OF ARMIDA AND RINALDO,
WITH THE DECOY-NYMPH.
Dear is that picture for my childhood's sake, —
The man asleep, so near to love or harm ;
The winged boy, that stays Armida's arm,
The siren-girl, all hush'd, lest he awake ;
While, in the background of that pictured tale.
Sown with enchanted herbs, and clad with gloom,
A sombre eminence o'erlooks the vale,
A purple hill, where all my dreams found room :
'Tis strange, with how few touches of a brush.
That painter's hand supplied, in life's fresh dawn.
The mystic thoughts I loved ! Sweet thoughts ! deepdrawn.
Far-destined ; cherish'd still without a blush ;
Deep-drawn—from God's own founts of mystery ;
Far destined—^for my soul must ever be.
WITH THE DECOY-NYMPH.
Dear is that picture for my childhood's sake, —
The man asleep, so near to love or harm ;
The winged boy, that stays Armida's arm,
The siren-girl, all hush'd, lest he awake ;
While, in the background of that pictured tale.
Sown with enchanted herbs, and clad with gloom,
A sombre eminence o'erlooks the vale,
A purple hill, where all my dreams found room :
'Tis strange, with how few touches of a brush.
That painter's hand supplied, in life's fresh dawn.
The mystic thoughts I loved ! Sweet thoughts ! deepdrawn.
Far-destined ; cherish'd still without a blush ;
Deep-drawn—from God's own founts of mystery ;
Far destined—^for my soul must ever be.