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XXVII.

OXFORD, MAY 30, 1820.

YE sacred Nurseries of blooming Youth!

In whose collegiate shelter England's Flowers
Expand enjoying through their vernal hours

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The air of liberty, the light of truth;

Much have ye suffered from Time's gnawing tooth,
Yet, O ye Spires of Oxford! Domes and Towers!
Gardens and Groves! your presence overpowers
The soberness of Reason; till, in sooth,
Transformed, and rushing on a bold exchange,
I slight my own beloved Cam, to range
Where silver Isis leads my stripling feet;
Pace the long avenue, or glide adown

The stream-like windings of that glorious street,

An eager Novice robed in fluttering gown!

XXVIII.

OXFORD, MAY 30, 1820.

SHAME on this faithless heart! that could allow

Such transport — though but for a moment's space;

Not while to aid the spirit of the place —

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The crescent moon clove with its glittering prow
The clouds, or night-bird sang from shady bough,
But in plain daylight: She, too, at my side,
Who, with her heart's experience satisfied,
Maintains inviolate its slightest vow!

Sweet Fancy! other gifts must I receive;
Proofs of a higher sovereignty I claim;

Take from her brow the withering flowers of eve,
And to that brow Life's morning wreath restore:
Let her be comprehended in the frame

Of these illusions, or they please no more.

XXIX.

RECOLLECTION OF THE PORTRAIT OF KING HENRY EIGHTH, TRINITY LODGE, CAMBRIDGE.

THE imperial Stature, the colossal stride,
Are yet before me; yet do I behold

The broad full visage, chest of amplest mould,
The vestments 'broidered with barbaric pride:
And lo! a poniard, at the Monarch's side,
Hangs ready to be grasped in sympathy
With the keen threatenings of that fulgent eye,
Below the white-rimmed bonnet, far descried.
Who trembles now at thy capricious mood?
Mid those surrounding worthies, haughty King!
We rather think, with grateful mind sedate,
How Providence educeth, from the spring
Of lawless will, unlooked-for streams of good,
Which neither force shall check, nor time abate.

XXX.

ON THE DEATH OF HIS LATE MAJESTY.

WARD of the LAW! — dread Shadow of a King!

Whose Realm had dwindled to one stately room;
Whose universe was gloom immersed in gloom,
Darkness as thick as Life o'er Life could fling,
Save haply for some feeble glimmering

Of Faith and Hope; if thou, by nature's doom,
Gently hast sunk into the quiet tomb,
Why should we bend in grief, to sorrow cling,
When thankfulness were best?-Fresh-flowing tears,
Or, where tears flow not, sigh succeeding sigh,
Yield to such after-thought the sole reply
Which justly it can claim. The Nation hears

In this deep knell silent for threescore years,

An unexampled voice of awful memory!

XXXI.

JUNE, 1820.

FAME tells of Groves

from England far away –

*Groves that inspire the Nightingale to trill
And modulate, with subtle reach of skill
Elsewhere unmatched, her ever-varying lay;
Such bold report I venture to gainsay :
For I have heard the choir of Richmond hill
Chanting, with indefatigable bill,

Strains, that recalled to mind a distant day;
When, haply under shade of that same wood,
And scarcely conscious of the dashing oars
Plied steadily between those willowy shores,
The sweet-souled Poet of the Seasons stood
Listening, and listening long, in rapturous mood,
Ye heavenly Birds! to your Progenitors.

* Wallachia is the country alluded to.

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