The Sylph and the Flowers.
The gentlest breeze that ever
Swept o'er a woodland scene,
Just giving leaves that quiver,
Which show the silvery green;
The downy underlining
Amongst the foliage played,
As sunset rays were shining
On hedge-row, flower, and blade.
Swept o'er a woodland scene,
Just giving leaves that quiver,
Which show the silvery green;
The downy underlining
Amongst the foliage played,
As sunset rays were shining
On hedge-row, flower, and blade.
The fragrant thorn was covered
With a luxury of gems;
The wing of wild-bee hovered
O'er myriad bright-crowned stems.
The blyth laburnum flaunted
Its tassels o'er the brook,
And birds their last hymn chaunted,
Ere they to rest betook.
With a luxury of gems;
The wing of wild-bee hovered
O'er myriad bright-crowned stems.
The blyth laburnum flaunted
Its tassels o'er the brook,
And birds their last hymn chaunted,
Ere they to rest betook.
The modest primrose bended
In thanksgiving her head:
The essence that ascended
Was the sweet prayer she said.
When, like a radiant shadow,
The Sylph of eventide
Passed brightly o'er the meadow,
To the gentle floweret's side.
In thanksgiving her head:
The essence that ascended
Was the sweet prayer she said.
When, like a radiant shadow,
The Sylph of eventide
Passed brightly o'er the meadow,
To the gentle floweret's side.
Its drooping head she lifted,
As if by soft wind's swell,
And whispered, "Thou art gifted,
I charm thee with a spell.
In garden or in wild wood,
Where e'er thy sweet gems spring,
The golden days of childhood
From memory's waste thou'lt bring.
As if by soft wind's swell,
And whispered, "Thou art gifted,
I charm thee with a spell.
In garden or in wild wood,
Where e'er thy sweet gems spring,
The golden days of childhood
From memory's waste thou'lt bring.
"The eye of age shall glisten
As it meets thy gentle bloom,
And the heart to tones will listen
Long hush'd within the tomb.
Life's guileless revelations
It will thine be to impart;
And all pure associations
With the primrose time of heart."
As it meets thy gentle bloom,
And the heart to tones will listen
Long hush'd within the tomb.
Life's guileless revelations
It will thine be to impart;
And all pure associations
With the primrose time of heart."
"Stay, yet, thou gentle spirit,"
Rose like the breeze's sigh,
"Let me also inherit
Some charm that will not die;
And let earth's sons relate it,
Of my useful merits tell,"
And a fragile stem prostrated
To the earth its pale blue bell.
Rose like the breeze's sigh,
"Let me also inherit
Some charm that will not die;
And let earth's sons relate it,
Of my useful merits tell,"
And a fragile stem prostrated
To the earth its pale blue bell.
"Great and varied be thy mission,
Useful to the child of earth;
Change of name and of position
Shall attend thee from thy birth,
Treasuring truths through rolling ages,
Thine the glorious task shall be,
On bright thoughts of bards and sages
Stamping immortality.
Useful to the child of earth;
Change of name and of position
Shall attend thee from thy birth,
Treasuring truths through rolling ages,
Thine the glorious task shall be,
On bright thoughts of bards and sages
Stamping immortality.
"Thine shall be the trust and treasure
Of the written words of worth,
Deathlessly to keep each measure,
When the bard is long in earth.
Let thy present humble station,
Home to human bosoms bring;
And thy future's exaltation,
What from simplest source may spring.
Of the written words of worth,
Deathlessly to keep each measure,
When the bard is long in earth.
Let thy present humble station,
Home to human bosoms bring;
And thy future's exaltation,
What from simplest source may spring.
"To what height of use and glory,
From obscurity may pass;
Humblest genius speaks the story,
Of the flax flower's slender grass."
Said the Sylph—and, softly gliding,
Vanish'd 'mongst the leafy bowers,
With her gentle breath presiding
O'er the sisterhood of flowers.
From obscurity may pass;
Humblest genius speaks the story,
Of the flax flower's slender grass."
Said the Sylph—and, softly gliding,
Vanish'd 'mongst the leafy bowers,
With her gentle breath presiding
O'er the sisterhood of flowers.