The Poetical Works Of Robert Bridges Part 40

_in Five Books_

_PREVIOUS EDITIONS_

1. _Bks. I-IV. Clarendon Press. Geo. Bell & Sons, Oct. 1890._ _Reprinted, Nov. 1890, 1891, 1894._

2. _Bks. I-V. Private Press of H. Daniel. Oxford, 1894._

3. _Do. do. Clarendon Press. George Bell & Sons, 1896._

4. _Cheap issue of 3. 1899. Reprinted, 1899._

5. _Poetical works of R. B. Smith, Elder & Co., 1899, vol. II._

_An account of earlier issues of first four books is given in notes at end of 5._

SHORTER POEMS

BOOK I

DEDICATED TO H. E. W.

1

ELEGY

Clear and gentle stream!

Known and loved so long, That hast heard the song And the idle dream Of my boyish day; While I once again Down thy margin stray, In the selfsame strain Still my voice is spent, With my old lament And my idle dream, Clear and gentle stream!

Where my old seat was Here again I sit, Where the long boughs knit Over stream and gra.s.s A translucent eaves: Where back eddies play Shipwreck with the leaves, And the proud swans stray, Sailing one by one Out of stream and sun, And the fish lie cool In their chosen pool.

Many an afternoon Of the summer day Dreaming here I lay; And I know how soon, Idly at its hour, First the deep bell hums From the minster tower, And then evening comes, Creeping up the glade, With her lengthening shade, And the tardy boon Of her brightening moon.

Clear and gentle stream!

Ere again I go Where thou dost not flow, Well does it beseem Thee to hear again Once my youthful song, That familiar strain Silent now so long: Be as I content With my old lament And my idle dream, Clear and gentle stream.

2

ELEGY

The wood is bare: a river-mist is steeping The trees that winter's chill of life bereaves: Only their stiffened boughs break silence, weeping Over their fallen leaves;

That lie upon the dank earth brown and rotten, Miry and matted in the soaking wet: Forgotten with the spring, that is forgotten By them that can forget.

Yet it was here we walked when ferns were springing, And through the mossy bank shot bud and blade:- Here found in summer, when the birds were singing, A green and pleasant shade.

'Twas here we loved in sunnier days and greener; And now, in this disconsolate decay, I come to see her where I most have seen her, And touch the happier day.

For on this path, at every turn and corner, The fancy of her figure on me falls; Yet walks she with the slow step of a mourner, Nor hears my voice that calls.

So through my heart there winds a track of feeling, A path of memory, that is all her own: Whereto her phantom beauty ever stealing Haunts the sad spot alone.

About her steps the trunks are bare, the branches Drip heavy tears upon her downcast head; And bleed from unseen wounds that no sun stanches, For the year's sun is dead.

And dead leaves wrap the fruits that summer planted: And birds that love the South have taken wing.

The wanderer, loitering o'er the scene enchanted, Weeps, and despairs of spring.

3

Poor withered rose and dry, Skeleton of a rose, Risen to testify To love's sad close:

Treasured for love's sweet sake, That of joy past Thou might'st again awake Memory at last.

Yet is thy perfume sweet; Thy petals red Yet tell of summer heat, And the gay bed:

Yet, yet recall the glow Of the gazing sun, When at thy bush we two Joined hands in one.

But, rose, thou hast not seen, Thou hast not wept The change that pa.s.sed between, Whilst thou hast slept.

To me thou seemest yet The dead dream's thrall: While I live and forget Dream, truth and all.

Thou art more fresh than I, Rose, sweet and red: Salt on my pale cheeks lie The tears I shed.

4

THE CLIFF-TOP

The cliff-top has a carpet Of lilac, gold and green: The blue sky bounds the ocean, The white clouds scud between.

A flock of gulls are wheeling And wailing round my seat; Above my head the heaven, The sea beneath my feet.

THE OCEAN.

Were I a cloud I'd gather My skirts up in the air, And fly I well know whither, And rest I well know where.

As pointed the star surely, The legend tells of old, Where the wise kings might offer Myrrh, frankincense, and gold;