His present being: so he gently drew His warm arms, thrilling now with pulses new, From their sweet thrall, and forward gently bending, Thank'd Heaven that his joy was never-ending; While 'gainst his forehead he devoutly press'd A hand Heaven made to succour the distress'd; A hand that from the world's bleak promontory Had lifted Calidore for deeds of Glory. Amid the pages, and the torches' glare, There stood a knight, patting the flowing hair Of his proud horse's mane: he was withal A man of elegance, and stature tall: So that the waving of his plumes would be High as the berries of a wild ash tree, Or as the winged cap of Mercury. His armour was so dexterously wrought In shape, that sure no living man had thought It hard and heavy steel: but that indeed It was some glorious form, some splendid weed, In which a spirit new come from the skies Might live, and show itself to human eyes. 'Tis the far-famed, the brave Sir Gondibert, Said the good man to Calidore alert; While the young warrior with a step of grace Came up, a courtly smile upon his face, And mailed hand held out, ready to greet The large-eyed wonder, and ambitious heat Of the aspiring boy; who as he led Over a knightly brow; while they went by The lamps that from the high-roof'd hall were pendent, And gave the steel a shining quite transcendent. Soon in a pleasant chamber they are seated, Of a light mantle; and while Clerimond From lovely woman: while brimful of this, Mysterious, wild, the far-heard trumpet's tone; Lovely the moon in ether, all alone : Sweet too the converse of these happy mortals, As that of busy spirits when the portals Are closing in the West: or that soft humming We hear around when Hesperus is coming. Sweet be their sleep. TO SOME LADIES, ON RECEIVING A CURIOUS SHELL. WHAT though, while the wonders of nature exploring, I cannot your light, mazy footsteps attend; Nor listen to accents, that almost adoring, Bless Cynthia's face, the enthusiast's friend: Yet over the steep, whence the mountain-stream rushes, With you, kindest friends, in idea I rove; Mark the clear tumbling crystal, its passionate gushes, Its spray, that a wild flower kindly bedews. Why linger ye so, the wild labyrinth strolling? Why breathless, unable your bliss to declare? Ah! you list to the nightingale's tender condoling, Responsive to sylphs, in the moon-beamy air. 'Tis morn, and the flowers with dew are yet drooping, I see you are treading the verge of the sea: And now! ah, I see it-you just now are stooping To pick up the keepsake intended for me. If a cherub, on pinions of silver descending, And smiles with his star-cheering voice sweetly blending, The blessings of Tighe had melodiously given; It had not created a warmer emotion Than the present, fair nymphs, I was blest with from you; Than the shell, from the bright golden sands of the ocean, Which the emerald waves at your feet gladly threw. For, indeed, 'tis a sweet and peculiar pleasure, |