Prate not to me so much of suns and of nebulous bodies;

If thou never hast gazed upon gladness in beauteous features,Thou canst with truth never boast that thou true gladness hast seen.

The night-sprite, sighing, through the dim air stirs;The clouds descend in rain;Mourning, the wan stars wane,Flickering like dying lamps in sepulchres!Haggard as spectres–vision-like and dumb,Dark with the pomp of death, and moving slow,Towards that sad lair the pale procession comeWhere the grave closes on the night below.With dim, deep-sunken eye,Crutched on his staff, who trembles…

Thy spells, O virtue, never can assuageThe heart’s wild fire–this offering do not askTrue, I have sworn–a solemn vow have sworn,That I myself will curb the self within;Yet take thy wreath, no more it shall be worn–Take back thy wreath, and leave me free to sin.Rent be the contract I with thee once made;–She loves…

‘I’ll give thee treasures without end,If thou wilt be my friend instead.’‘My choicest gifts to him I gave,And ever blest him with my smile;And yet he ceases not to crave,And calls me niggard all the while.’‘Come, sister, let us friendship vow!So take the money, nothing loth;Why always labor at the plough?Here is enough I’m sure…

The task of small professors to invent;A single wheel impels the whole machineMatter and spirit;–yea, that simple law,Pervading nature, which our Newton saw.This taught the spheres, slaves to one golden rein,Their radiant labyrinths to weave aroundCreation’s mighty hearts: this made the chain,Which into interwoven systems boundAll spirits streaming to the spiritual sunAs brooks that ever…

The godlike art which gives such boons to toil,And showers such fruit upon thy native soil;–The godlike art that girt the town when allRome’s vengeance burst in thunder on the wall!’‘Thou call’st art godlike–it is so, in truth,And was,’ replied the master to the youth,‘Ere yet its secrets were applied to use–Ere yet it served…