A VISION OF POETS.
167
"Compelled by instincts in my head,
That I should see to-night instead
Of a fair nymph, some fairer Dread."
That I should see to-night instead
Of a fair nymph, some fairer Dread."
She looked up quickly to the sky
And spake:—"The moon's regality
Will hear no praise! she is as I.
And spake:—"The moon's regality
Will hear no praise! she is as I.
"She is in heaven, and I on earth;
This is my kingdom—I come forth
To crown all poets to their worth."
This is my kingdom—I come forth
To crown all poets to their worth."
He brake in with a voice that mourned—
"To their worth, lady! They are scorned
By men they sing for, till inurned.
"To their worth, lady! They are scorned
By men they sing for, till inurned.
"To their worth! Beauty in the mind
Leaves the hearth cold; and love-refined
Ambitions make the world unkind.
Leaves the hearth cold; and love-refined
Ambitions make the world unkind.
"The boor who ploughs the daisy down,
The chief, whose mortgage of renown,
Fixed upon graves, has bought a crown—
The chief, whose mortgage of renown,
Fixed upon graves, has bought a crown—
"Both these are happier, more approved
Than poets!—Why should I be moved
In saying both are more beloved?"
Than poets!—Why should I be moved
In saying both are more beloved?"
"The south can judge not of the north;"
She resumed calmly—"I come forth
To crown all poets to their worth.
She resumed calmly—"I come forth
To crown all poets to their worth.
"Yea, sooth! and to anoint them all
With blessed oils, which surely shall
Smell sweeter as the ages fall."
With blessed oils, which surely shall
Smell sweeter as the ages fall."
"As sweet," the poet said, and rung
A low sad laugh, "as flowers do, sprung
Out of their graves when they die young!
A low sad laugh, "as flowers do, sprung
Out of their graves when they die young!
"As sweet as window eglantine—
Some bough of which, as they decline,
The hired nurse plucketh at their sign!
Some bough of which, as they decline,
The hired nurse plucketh at their sign!
