Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew
On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes
In timely sleep. Let thy west wind sleep on
The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes,
And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon, 10
Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide,
And the lion glares thro' the dun forest:
The fleeces of our flocks are cover'd with
Thy sacred dew: protect them with thine influence.
6. silver] EY omit. 7 shuts] closes DGR, Swinb., EY. 12 And the] And then the DGR, EY, WBY.14 protect . . . influence] protect with influence EY.
O holy virgin! clad in purest white, 1
Unlock heav'n's golden gates, and issue forth;
Awake the dawn that sleeps in heaven; let light
Rise from the chambers of the east, and bring
The honied dew that cometh on waking day. 3
O radiant morning, salute the sun
Rouz'd like a huntsman to the chace, and with
Thy buskin'd feet appear upon our hills.
Poetical Sketches, p. 6.
The bell struck one, and shook the silent tower; 1
The graves give up their dead: fair Elenor
Walk'd by the castle gate, and looked in.
A hollow groan ran thro' the dreary vaults.
Poetical Sketches, pp. 7-10. The theme of this very juvenile poem was evidently suggested by Walpole's 'Gothic story,' The Castle of Otranto, first published in 1765. Compare the incident in the first chapter, where Isabella descends into the vaults of the Castle, and shrieks on meeting what she believes to be the ghost of Conrad.
