And is this -Yarrow? -This the stream Of
which my fancy cherished So
faithfully, a waking dream, An
image that hath perished? O
that some minstrel’s harp were near To
utter notes of gladness And
chase this silence from the air, That
fills my heart with sadness!
Yet
why? -a silvery current flows With
uncontrolled meanderings; Nor
have these eyes by greener hills Been
soothed, in all my wanderings. And,
through her depths, Saint Mary’s Lake Is
visibly delighted; For
not a feature of those hills Is
in the mirror slighted.
A
blue sky bends o’er Yarrow Vale, Save
where that pearly whiteness Is
round the rising sun diffused, A
tender hazy brightness; Mild
dawn of promise! that excludes All
profitless dejection; Though
not unwilling here to admit A
pensive recollection.
Where
was it that the famous Flower Of
Yarrow Vale lay bleeding? His
bed perchance was yon smooth mound On
which the herd is feeding: And
haply from this crystal pool, Now
peaceful as the morning, The
Water-wraith ascended thrice, And
gave his doleful warning.
Delicious
is the Lay that sings The
haunts of happy lovers, The
path that leads them to the grove, The
leafy grove that covers: And
pity sanctifies the verse That
paints, by strength of sorrow, The
unconquerable strength of love; Bear
witness, rueful Yarrow!
But
thou that didst appear so fair To
fond imagination, Dost
rival in the light of day Her
delicate creation: Meek
loveliness is round thee spread, A
softness still and holy: The
grace of forest charms decayed, And
pastoral melancholy.
That
region left, the vale unfolds Rich
groves of lofty stature, With
Yarrow winding through the pomp Of
cultivated nature; And
rising from those lofty groves Behold
a ruin hoary, The
shattered front of Newark’s Towers, Renowned
in Border story.
Fair
scenes for childhood’s opening bloom, For
sportive youth to stray in, For
manhood to enjoy his strength, And
age to wear away in! Yon
cottage seems a bower of bliss, A
covert for protection Of
tender thoughts, that nestle there - The
brood of chaste affection.
How
sweeet on this autumnal day The
wild-wood fruits to gather, And
on my true-love’s forehead plant A
crest of blooming heather! And
what if I enwreathed my own? ‘Twere
no offence to reason; The
sober hills thus deck their brows To
meet the wintry season.
I
see -but not by sight alone, Loved
Yarrow, have I won thee; A
ray of Fancy still survives - Her
sunshine plays upon thee! Thy
ever-youthful waters keep A
course of lively pleasure; And
gladsome notes my lips can breathe Accordant
to the measure.
The
vapours linger round the heights, They
melt, and soon must vanish; One
hour is theirs, nor more is mine - Sad
thought! which I would banish, But
that I know, where’er I go, Thy
genuine image, Yarrow! Will
dwell with me -to heighten joy, And cheer my mind in sorrow. |
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