Page:The West Indies, and Other Poems.djvu/147

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

135

The youth who lifts his graceful hand,

Struck the unshapen block, And Beauty leap'd, at his command,

A Venus from the rock.

Trembling with ecstasy of thought.

Behold the Grecian maid. Whom love's enchanting impulse taught

To trace a slumberer's shade.

Sweet are the thefts of love ; — she stole

His image while he lay. Kindled the shadow to a soul.

And breathed that soul through clay.

Yon listening nymph, who looks behind,

With countenance of fire, Heard midnight music in the wind,

— And framed the jEolian lyre.

�� �