The Eolian Harp[;] Composed at Clevendon, Somersetshire

1. 1My pensive Sara! thy soft cheek reclined
2. 2Thus on mine arm, most soothing sweet it is
3. 3To sit beside our Cot, our Cot o'ergrown
4. 4With white-flower'd Jasmin, and the broad-leav'd Myrtle,
5. 5(Meet emblems they of Innocence and Love!)
6. 6And watch the clouds, that late were rich with light,
7. 7Slow saddening round, and mark the star of eve
8. 8Serenely brilliant (such should Wisdom be)
9. 9Shine opposite! How exquisite the scents
10. 10Snatch'd from yon bean-field! and the world so hush'd!
11. 11The stilly murmur of the distant Sea
12. 12Tells us of silence.

1. 13And that simplest Lute,
2. 14Placed length-ways in the clasping casement, hark!
3. 15How by the desultory breeze caress'd,
4. 16Like some coy maid half yielding to her lover,
5. 17It pours such sweet upbraiding, as must needs
6. 18Tempt to repeat the wrong! And now, its strings
7. 19Boldlier swept, the long sequacious notes
8. 20Over delicious surges sink and rise,
9. 21Such a soft floating witchery of sound
10. 22As twilight Elfins make, when they at eve
11. 23Voyage on gentle gales from Fairy-Land,
12. 24Where Melodies round honey-dropping flowers,
13. 25Footless and wild, like birds of Paradise,
14. 26Nor pause, nor perch, hovering on untam'd wing!
15. 27O! the one Life within us and abroad,
16. 28Which meets all motion and becomes its soul,
17. 29A light in sound, a sound-like power in light,
18. 30Rhythm in all thought, and joyance every where--
19. 31Methinks, it should have been impossible
20. 32Not to love all things in a world so fill'd;
21. 33Where the breeze warbles, and the mute still air
22. 34Is Music slumbering on her instrument.

1. 35And thus, my Love! as on the midway slope
2. 36Of yonder hill I stretch my limbs at noon,
3. 37Whilst through my half-closed eye-lids I behold
4. 38The sunbeams dance, like diamonds, on the main,
5. 39And tranquil muse upon tranquillity;
6. 40Full many a thought uncall'd and undetain'd,
7. 41And many idle flitting phantasies,
8. 42Traverse my indolent and passive brain,
9. 43As wild and various as the random gales
10. 44That swell and flutter on this subject Lute!

1. 45And what if all of animated nature
2. 46Be but organic Harps diversely fram'd,
3. 47That tremble into thought, as o'er them sweeps
4. 48Plastic and vast, one intellectual breeze,
5. 49At once the Soul of each, and God of all?

1. 50But thy more serious eye a mild reproof
2. 51Darts, O belovéd Woman! nor such thoughts
3. 52Dim and unhallow'd dost thou not reject,
4. 53And biddest me walk humbly with my God.
5. 54Meek Daughter in the family of Christ!
6. 55Well hast thou said and holily disprais'd
7. 56These shapings of the unregenerate mind;
8. 57Bubbles that glitter as they rise and break
9. 58On vain Philosophy's aye-babbling spring.
10. 59For never guiltless may I speak of him,
11. 60The Incomprehensible! save when with awe
12. 61I praise him, and with Faith that inly feels;
13. 62Who with his saving mercies healéd me,
14. 63A sinful and most miserable man,
15. 64Wilder'd and dark, and gave me to possess
16. 65Peace, and this Cot, and thee, heart-honour'd Maid!