Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/48

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6
Poetical Sketches

Beneath our thickest shades we oft have heard
Thy voice, when noon upon his fervid car
Rode o'er the deep of heaven; beside our springs
Sit down, and in our mossy vallies, on 10
Some bank beside a river clear, throw thy
Silk draperies off, and rush into the stream:
Our vallies love the Summer in his pride.


Our bards are fam'd who strike the silver wire:
Our youth are bolder than the southern swains:15
Our maidens fairer in the sprightly dance:
We lack not songs, nor instruments of joy,
Nor echoes sweet, nor waters clear as heaven.
Nor laurel wreaths against the sultry heat.

  • 11 thy] all DGR.
  • 12 Silk] Thy DGR.
  • 15 youth] youths DGR.


To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained 1
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance! 5
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.


'The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest eve,10
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.


'The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.'15
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

Poetical Sketches, p. 3.