Classic Poem

And Other Early Romantic Landscape-Poets

Mild hearts! and modest as the evening bell
 That rings so often through your meadow rhyme,
May there be elms and belfries where you dwell,
 And the last streaks of day still gild old time!

In the new heaven and true Jerusalem
 Can such things be? That can they! where you rove
The glow-worm shall not hide his elvish gem,
 The owl with ghostly wing shall tour the grove.

And when the charms and fairies of the night
 Are changed to sparkling dew and morning's choir,
Gazing the vale farms, from some sheep-strown height,
 How will you welcome Phœbus' dancing fire!

On ancient arches shall your primrose peep,
 On diamond lattices your sunbeam play,
Across shy brooks your little peasants leap,
 And peace and innocence divide the day.

Nor shall the shades of poets not be seen
 Whom you have loved. Milton in his young prime,
Spenser and Chaucer on the daisied green
 Shall join with you and hear May-morning chime.