Without the smile from partial beauty won, O! what were man?-a world without a sun! Till Hymen brought his love-delighted hour, In vain the wild-bird carol'd on the steep, 25 To hail the sun, slow-wheeling from the deep; 30 In vain, to soothe the solitary shade, Aërial notes in mingling measure play'd; The summer wind that shook the spangled tree, The whispering wave, the murmur of the bee;-- And still the stranger wist not where to stray, 35 The world was sad!-the garden was a wild! And Man, the hermit, sigh'd-till Woman smil'd! By wealthless lot, or pitiless command; Or doom'd to gaze on beauties that adorn A barren path—a wildness, and a dream! But, can the noble mind for ever brood, The willing victim of a weary mood, 50 On heartless cares that squander life away, And cloud young Genius bright'ning into day?— The noon of manhood to a myrtle shade! If Hope's creative spirit cannot raise One trophy sacred to thy future days, Scorn the dull crowd that haunt the gloomy shrine Of hopeless love to murmur and repine! But, should a sigh of milder mood express 55 Thy heart-warm wishes, true to happiness, 60 (For love pursues an ever devious race, True to the winding lineaments of grace); Yet still may Hope her talisman employ To snatch from Heaven anticipated joy, 70 That burn the brightest in the purest heart! When first the Rhodian's mimic art array'd The queen of Beauty in her Cyprian shade, The happy master mingled on his piece 75 Each look that charm'd him in the fair of Greece; To faultless Nature true, he stole a grace From every finer form and sweeter face; And, as he sojourn'd on the Ægean isles, Woo'd all their love, and treasur'd all their smiles; 80 Then glow'd the tints, pure, precious, and refin'd, So thy fair hand, enamour'd Fancy! gleans Some cottage-home, from towns and toil remote, With Peace embosom'd in Idalian bow'rs! Remote from busy Life's bewilder'd way, O'er all his heart shall Taste and Beauty sway! Free on the sunny slope, or winding shore, With hermit steps to wander and adore! |