THE VISIONARY HOPE[416:1]

Sad lot, to have no Hope! Though lowly kneeling He fain would frame a prayer within his breast, Would fain entreat for some sweet breath of healing, That his sick body might have ease and rest; He strove in vain! the dull sighs from his chest 5 Against his will the stifling load revealing, Though Nature forced; though like some captive guest, Some royal prisoner at his conqueror's feast, An alien's restless mood but half concealing, The sternness on his gentle brow confessed, 10 Sickness within and miserable feeling: Though obscure pangs made curses of his dreams, And dreaded sleep, each night repelled in vain, Each night was scattered by its own loud screams: Yet never could his heart command, though fain, 15 One deep full wish to be no more in pain.

That Hope, which was his inward bliss and boast, Which waned and died, yet ever near him stood, Though changed in nature, wander where he would-- For Love's Despair is but Hope's pining Ghost! 20 For this one hope he makes his hourly moan, He wishes and can wish for this alone!

Pierced, as with light from Heaven, before its gleams (So the love-stricken visionary deems) Disease would vanish, like a summer shower, 25 Whose dews fling sunshine from the noon-tide bower!

Or let it stay! yet this one Hope should give Such strength that he would bless his pains and live.

? 1810.

FOOTNOTES:

[416:1] First published in _Sibylline Leaves_, 1817: included in 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

[22] can] _can_ S. L. 1828, 1829.

EPITAPH ON AN INFANT[417:1]

Its balmy lips the infant blest Relaxing from its Mother's breast, How sweet it heaves the happy sigh Of innocent satiety!

And such my Infant's latest sigh! 5 Oh tell, rude stone! the pa.s.ser by, That here the pretty babe doth lie, Death sang to sleep with Lullaby.

1811.

FOOTNOTES:

[417:1] First published, with the signature 'Aphilos,' in the _Courier_, Wednesday, March 20, 1811: included in _Sibylline Leaves_, 1817, and in 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

[1] balmy] milky Courier, 1811.

[5] Infant's] darling's Courier, 1811.

[6] Tell simple stone Courier, 1811.

[7] the] a Courier, 1811.

THE VIRGIN'S CRADLE-HYMN[417:2]

COPIED FROM A PRINT OF THE VIRGIN IN A ROMAN CATHOLIC VILLAGE IN GERMANY

Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet Quae tam dulcem somnum videt, Dormi, Jesu! blandule!

Si non dormis, Mater plorat, Inter fila cantans orat, 5 Blande, veni, somnule.

ENGLISH[417:3]

Sleep, sweet babe! my cares beguiling: Mother sits beside thee smiling; Sleep, my darling, tenderly!

If thou sleep not, mother mourneth, 10 Singing as her wheel she turneth: Come, soft slumber, balmily!

1811.

FOOTNOTES:

[417:2] First published as from 'A Correspondent in Germany' in the _Morning Post_, December 26, 1801.

[417:3] First published with the Latin in the _Courier_, August 30, 1811, with the following introduction:--'About thirteen years ago or more, travelling through the middle parts of Germany I saw a little print of the Virgin and Child in the small public house of a Catholic Village, with the following beautiful Latin lines under it, which I transcribed. They may be easily adapted to the air of the famous Sicilian Hymn, _Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes_, by the omission of a few notes.' First collected in _Sibylline Leaves_, 1817: included in 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle--In a Roman Catholic] In a Catholic S. L., 1828, 1829.

TO A LADY[418:1]

OFFENDED BY A SPORTIVE OBSERVATION THAT WOMEN HAVE NO SOULS

Nay, dearest Anna! why so grave?

I said, you had no soul, 'tis true!

For what you are, you cannot have: 'Tis I, that have one since I first had you!

? 1811.

FOOTNOTES:

[418:1] First published in _Omniana_ (1812), i. 238; 'as a playful ill.u.s.tration of the distinction between _To_ have _and to_ be.' First collected in 1828: included in 1829 and 1834.