SONNETS AND CANZONETS.
“These quiet and green places, these mountains and valleys, were created by Nature on purpose for loving hearts.”
“Be it that my unseasonable song Come out of time, that fault is in the time; And I must not do Virtue so much wrong, As love her aught the worse for others’ crime; And yet I find some blessed spirits among That cherish me, and like and grace my rhyme.” Daniel.
PROEM.
Long left unwounded by the grisly foe, Who sometime pierces all with fatal shaft, Still on my cheek fresh youth did lively glow, And at his threatening arrow gaily laught; Came then my friendly scholar, and we quaffed From learning’s spring, its sparkling overflow; All through the lingering evening’s charmèd hours, Delightful fellowship in thought was ours: If I from Poesy could not all abstain, He my poor verses oft did quite undress, New wrapt in words my thought’s veiled nakedness, Or kindly clipt my steed’s luxuriant mane: ’Twas my delight his searching eye to meet, In days of genial versing, memories sweet. January 1, 1882.