[12]

  “Ne’er in the breast of full-grown Poet
  Fluttered so faint a heart before;—­
  Was it the music of the spheres
  That overpowered your mortal ears? 
  —­Such din shall trouble them no more. 85

  “These nether precincts do not lack
  Charms of their own;—­then come with me;
  I want a comrade, and for you
  There’s nothing that I would not do;
  Nought is there that you shall not see. 90

  “Haste! and above Siberian snows
  We’ll sport amid the boreal morning;
  Will mingle with her lustres gliding
  Among the stars, the stars now hiding,
  And now the stars adorning. 95

  “I know the secrets of a land
  Where human foot did never stray;
  Fair is that land [13] as evening skies,
  And cool, though in the depth it lies
  Of burning Africa. 100

  “Or we’ll into the realm of Faery,
  Among the lovely shades of things;
  The shadowy forms of mountains bare,
  And streams, and bowers, and ladies fair,
  The shades of palaces and kings! 105

  “Or, if you thirst with hardy zeal
  Less quiet regions to explore,
  Prompt voyage shall to you reveal
  How earth and heaven are taught to feel
  The might of magic lore!” 110

  “My little vagrant Form of light,
  My gay and beautiful Canoe,
  Well have you played your friendly part;
  As kindly take what from my heart
  Experience forces—­then adieu! 115

  “Temptation lurks among your words;
  But, while these pleasures you’re pursuing
  Without impediment or let,
  No wonder if you quite forget [14]
  What on the earth is doing. 120

“There was a time when all mankind Did listen with a faith sincere To tuneful tongues in mystery versed; Then Poets fearlessly rehearsed The wonders of a wild career. 125

  “Go—­(but the world’s a sleepy world,
  And ’tis, I fear, an age too late)
  Take with you some ambitious Youth! 
  For, restless Wanderer!  I, in truth, [15]
  Am all unfit to be your mate. 130

  “Long have I loved what I behold,
  The night that calms, the day that cheers;
  The common growth of mother-earth
  Suffices me—­her tears, her mirth,
  Her humblest mirth and tears. 135

  “The dragon’s wing, the magic ring,
  I shall not covet for my dower,
  If I along that lowly way
  With sympathetic heart may stray,
  And with a soul of power. 140

  “These given, what more need I desire
  To stir, to soothe, or elevate? 
  What nobler marvels than the mind
  May in life’s daily prospect find,
  May find or there create? 145