按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lamenting for her Fawn；〃 which we prefer…not only as a specimen of the
elder poets； but in itself as a beautiful poem； abounding in pathos；
exquisitely delicate imagination and truthfulness…to anything of its
species：
〃It is a wondrous thing how fleet
'Twas on those little silver feet；
With what a pretty skipping grace
It oft would challenge me the race；
And when't had left me far away
'Twould stay； and run again； and stay；
For it was nimbler much than hinds；
And trod as if on the four winds。
I have a garden of my own；
But so with roses overgrown；
And lilies； that you would it guess
To be a little wilderness；
And all the spring…time of the year
It only loved to be there。
Among the beds of lilies I
Have sought it oft where it should lie；
Yet could not； till itself would rise；
Find it； although before mine eyes。
For in the flaxen lilies' shade
It like a bank of lilies laid；
Upon the roses it would feed
Until its lips even seemed to bleed；
And then to me 'twould boldly trip；
And print those roses on my lip；
But all its chief delight was still
With roses thus itself to fill；
And its pure virgin limbs to fold
In whitest sheets of lilies cold。
Had it lived long； it would have been
Lilies without； roses within。〃
How truthful an air of lamentations hangs here upon every syllable！ It
pervades all。。 It comes over the sweet melody of the words…over the
gentleness and grace which we fancy in the little maiden herself…even over
the half…playful； half…petulant air with which she lingers on the beauties
and good qualities of her favorite…like the cool shadow of a summer cloud
over a bed of lilies and violets； 〃and all sweet flowers。〃 The whole is
redolent with poetry of a very lofty order。 Every line is an idea
conveying either the beauty and playfulness of the fawn； or the
artlessness of the maiden； or her love； or her admiration； or her grief；
or the fragrance and warmth and _appropriateness _of the little nest…like
bed of lilies and roses which the fawn devoured as it lay upon them； and
could scarcely be distinguished from them by the once happy little damsel
who went to seek her pet with an arch and rosy smile on her face。 Consider
the great variety of truthful and delicate thought in the few lines we
have quotedthe _wonder _of the little maiden at the fleetness of her
favorite…the 〃little silver feet〃the fawn challenging his mistress to a
race with 〃a pretty skipping grace；〃 running on before； and then； with
head turned back； awaiting her approach only to fly from it again…can we
not distinctly perceive all these things？ How exceedingly vigorous； too；
is the line；
〃And trod as if on the four winds！〃
A vigor apparent only when we keep in mind the artless character of the
speaker and the four feet of the favorite； one for each wind。 Then
consider the garden of 〃my own；〃 so overgrown； entangled with roses and
lilies； as to be 〃a little wilderness〃the fawn loving to be there； and
there 〃only〃the maiden seeking it 〃where it _should _lie〃and not being
able to distinguish it from the flowers until 〃itself would rise〃the
lying among the lilies 〃like a bank of lilies〃the loving to 〃fill itself
with roses；〃
〃And its pure virgin limbs to fold
In whitest sheets of lilies cold；〃
and these things being its 〃chief〃 delights…and then the pre…eminent
beauty and naturalness of the concluding lines； whose very hyperbole only
renders them more true to nature when we consider the innocence； the
artlessness； the enthusiasm； the passionate girl； and more passionate
admiration of the bereaved child
〃Had it lived long； it would have been Lilies without； roses within。〃
* 〃Book of Gems；〃 Edited by S。 C。 Hall
~~~~~~ End of Texr ~~~~~~
POEMS
TO
THE NOBLEST OF HER SEX
THE AUTHOR OF
〃THE DRAMA OF EXILE〃
TO
MISS ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
OF ENGLAND
_I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME_
WITH THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIRATION AND WITH
THE MOST SINCERE ESTEEM
1845 E。A。P。
PREFACE
THESE trifles are collected and republished chiefly with a view to their
redemption from the many improvements to which they have been subjected
while going at random the 〃rounds of the press。〃 I am naturally anxious
that what I have written should circulate as I wrote it； if it circulate
at all。 In defence of my own taste； nevertheless； it is incumbent upon me
to say that I think nothing in this volume of much value to the public； or
very creditable to myself。 Events not to be controlled have prevented me
from making； at any time； any serious effort in what； under happier
circumstances； would have been the field of my choice。 With me poetry has
been not a purpose； but a passion； and the passions should be held in
reverence： they must not…they can not at will be excited； with an eye to
the paltry compensations； or the more paltry commendations； of man…kind。
E。 A。 P。
1845
THE RAVEN。
Once upon a midnight dreary； while I pondered； weak and weary；
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore；
While I nodded； nearly napping； suddenly there came a tapping；
As of some one gently rapping； rapping at my chamber door。
〃'Tis some visiter；〃 I muttered； 〃tapping at my chamber door
Only this； and nothing more。〃
Ah； distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December；
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor。
Eagerly I wished the morrow； vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow sorrow for the lost Lenore
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore
Nameless here for evermore。
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before；
So that now； to still the beating of my heart； I stood repeating
〃'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door
Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door；
This it is； and nothing more。〃
Presently my soul grew stronger； hesitating then no longer；
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃or Madam； truly your forgiveness I implore；
But the fact is I was napping； and so gently you came rapping；
And so faintly you came tapping； tapping at my chamber door；
That I scarce was sure I heard you 〃 here I opened wide the door；
Darkness there and nothing more。
Deep into that darkness peering； long I stood there wondering； fearing；
Doubting； dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before；
But the silence was unbroken； and the darkness gave no token；
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word； 〃Lenore！〃
This I whispered； and an echo murmured back the word； 〃Lenore！〃
Merely this； and nothing more。
Back into the chamber turning； all my soul within me burning；
Soon I heard again a tapping somewhat louder than before。
〃Surely；〃 said I； 〃surely that is something at my window lattice；
Let me see； then； what thereat is；