The feast dealt forth with bounty unconfined;

And while the vaulted roof did emulate

The starry heavens through splendour of the show,

It rang with music,—and methought the wind

Scattered the tuneful largess far and near,

That they who asked not might partake the cheer,

Who listened not could hear,

Where'er the wild winds were allowed to blow!

—That work reposing, on the verge

Of busiest exultation hung a dirge,