ENGLISH POETRY AND PROSE OF THE ROMANTIC MOVEMENT I. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FORERUNNERS ANNE, COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA (1661-1720) THE TREE 1880 Fair tree, for thy delightful shade 'Tis just that some return be made; Sure some return is due from me To thy cool shadows and to thee. 5 When thou to birds dost shelter give Thou music dost from them receive; If travellers beneath thee stay. Till storms have worn themselves away, That time in praising thee they spend, 10 And thy protecting pow'r commend; The shepherd here, from scorching freed, Tunes to thy dancing leaves his reed, Whilst his lov'd nymph in thanks bestows Her flow'ry chaplets on thy boughs. 15 Shall I then only silent be, And no return be made by me? 20 Untouch'd by the rash workman's hand, Prevent1 the axe, and grace thy end, Their scatter'd strength together call And to the clouds proclaim thy fall; Who then their ev'ning dews may spare, 30 When thou no longer art their care, But shalt, like ancient heroes, burn, And some bright hearth be made thy urn. From THE PETITION FOR AN ABSOLUTE RETREAT 1713 Give me, O indulgent Fate! A sweet, but absolute retreat, 'Mongst paths so lost, and trees so high, 1 come before; anticipate 5 That the world may ne'er invade, Through such windings and such shade, My unshaken liberty. No intruders thither come, News, that charm to list'ning ears, Courteous Fate! afford me there 30 Nor could the mighty patriarch's board All, but the forbidden tree, Grapes, with juice so crowded up |