Page:The complete poetical works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, including materials never before printed in any edition of the poems.djvu/639

And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine
Was the bright dew, yet drained not by the day; 20
And wild roses, and ivy serpentine,
With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray;
And flowers azure, black, and streaked with gold,
Fairer than any wakened eyes behold.

IV.

And nearer to the river's trembling edge 25

There grew broad flag-flowers, purple pranked with white,
And starry river buds among the sedge,
And floating water-lilies, broad and bright,
Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge
With moonlight beams of their own watery light; 30
And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green
As soothed the dazzled eye with sober sheen.

V.

Methought that of these visionary flowers

I made a nosegay, bound in such a way
That the same hues, which in their natural bowers 35
Were mingled or opposed, the like array
Kept these imprisoned children of the Hours
Within my hand,—and then, elate and gay,
I hastened to the spot whence I had come,
That I might there present it!—Oh! to whom? 40

 

THE TWO SPIRITS: AN ALLEGORY

[Published by Mrs. Shelley, Posthumous Poems, 1824.]

First Spirit.

O thou, who plumed with strong desire

Wouldst^[1] float above the earth, beware!
A Shadow tracks thy flight of fire—
Night is coming!
Bright are the regions of the air, 5
And among the winds and beams
It were delight to wander there—
Night is coming!

Second Spirit.

The deathless stars are bright above;

If I would cross the shade of night, 10
Within my heart is the lamp of love,
And that is day!
And the moon will smile with gentle light
On my golden plumes where'er they move;
The meteors will linger round my flight,15
And make night day.

First Spirit.

But if the whirlwinds of darkness waken

Hail, and lightning, and stormy rain;

1. Wouldst 1839; Would 1824.