Page:Modern poets and poetry of Spain.djvu/327

'T is sweet to break with sounding prow the wave
Of the dark surging sea, which shows behind
A lengthen'd streak of light the current gave.
'T is sweet to bound where lofty mountains wind,
Or on thy steed to scour along the plain;
But sweeter to my fiery soul 't is far-
To feel myself whirFd forward in the train
Of thy wild torrent, and as with a star
The brow decked proudly, hear thy oracles
Divine; and to repeat them, as of old
Greece listened mute to those from Delphic cells
The favour'd priestess of Apollo told;
While she with sacred horror would unfold
The words prophetic, trembling to refer
To the consuming god that frenzied her.

There is of life a spirit that pervades
The universe divine: 't is he who shades
All Nature's loveliest scenes with majesty,
And glory greater: beauty's self 't is he,
Who robes with radiant mantle, and endows
Her eye w T ith language eloquent, while flows
Soft music from her voice; 't is he who lends
To her the magic irresistible,
And fatal, which her smile and look attends,

Making men mad and drunk beneath her spell.