Composed 1827.—Published 1827
One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."—Ed.
"Why, Minstrel, these untuneful murmurings—
Dull, flagging notes that with each other jar?"
"Think, gentle Lady, of a Harp so far
From its own country, and forgive the strings."
A simple answer! but even so forth springs, 5
From the Castalian fountain of the heart,[450]
The Poetry of Life, and all that Art
Divine of words quickening insensate things.
From the submissive necks of guiltless men
Stretched on the block, the glittering axe recoils; 10
Sun, moon, and stars, all struggle in the toils
Of mortal sympathy; what wonder then
That[451] the poor Harp distempered music yields
To its sad Lord, far from his native fields?
FOOTNOTES:
[450] Castaly (Castalius fons), a fountain near Parnassus sacred to the Muses. See Virgil, Georgics, iii. 293.—Ed.
[451] 1837.
If ... 1827.