THE TRAVELLER'S RETURN. SWEET to the morning traveller And cheering to the traveller The gales that round him play, When faint and heavily he drags Along his noon-tide way. And when beneath the unclouded sun Full wearily toils he, The flowing water makes to him A soothing melody. And when the evening light decays, And all is calm around, There is sweet music to his ear In the distant sheep-bell's sound. But oh! of all delightful sounds The sweetest is the voice of Love, That welcomes his return. Westbury, 1798. THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS, AND HOW HE GAINED THEM. You are old, Father William the young man cried, In the days of my youth, Father William replied You are old, Father William, the young man cried, And yet you lament not the days that are gone, In the days of my youth, Father William replied, I remember'd that youth could not last; I thought of the future, whatever I did, That I never might grieve for the past. You are old, Father William, the young man cried, And life must be hastening away; You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death, Now tell me the reason, I pray. I am cheerful, young man, Father William replied, Let the cause thy attention engage; In the days of my youth I remember'd my God! And He hath not forgotten my age. Westbury, 1799. TRANSLATION OF A GREEK ODE ON ASTRONOMY, WRITTEN BY S. T. COLERIDGE, FOR THE PRIZE AT CAMBRIDGE, 1793. 1. HAIL, venerable NIGHT! Thou who art doom'd in thy dark breast to veil Hail, venerable NIGHT! Around thine ebon brow, Glittering plays with lightning rays The varying clouds with many a hue attire Holy are the blue graces of thy zone! To some the glories of the Day, The gorgeous Sun ascends his highest throne; 2. For then to the celestial Palaces The Goddess who alone The host of Stars, a beauteous throng, 3. Hail, O Urania, hail ! Queen of the Muses! Mistress of the Song ! For thou didst deign to leave the heavenly throng. As earthward thou thy steps wert bending, A ray went forth and harbinger'd thy way : All Ether laugh'd with thy descending. |