31
ODE ON THE POETICAL CHARACTER
As once,―if, not with light regard,
I read aright that gifted bard,
—Him whose school above the rest
His loveliest elfin queen has blest;—
One, only one, unrival'd[1] fair, 5
Might hope the magic girdle wear,
At solemn turney hung on high,
The wish of each love-darting eye;
I read aright that gifted bard,
—Him whose school above the rest
His loveliest elfin queen has blest;—
One, only one, unrival'd[1] fair, 5
Might hope the magic girdle wear,
At solemn turney hung on high,
The wish of each love-darting eye;
—Lo! to each other nymph, in turn, applied,
As if, in air unseen, some hovering hand, 10
Some chaste and angel friend to virgin fame,
With whisper'd spell had burst the starting band,
It left unblest her loathed dishonour'd side;
Happier, hopeless Fair, if never
Her baffled hand, with vain endeavour, 15
Had touch'd that fatal zone to her denied!
Young Fancy thus, to me divinest name,
To whom, prepared and bathed in heaven,
The cest of amplest power is given:
To few the godlike gift assigns, 20
To gird their blest prophetic loins,
And gaze her visions wild, and feel unmix'd her flame!
As if, in air unseen, some hovering hand, 10
Some chaste and angel friend to virgin fame,
With whisper'd spell had burst the starting band,
It left unblest her loathed dishonour'd side;
Happier, hopeless Fair, if never
Her baffled hand, with vain endeavour, 15
Had touch'd that fatal zone to her denied!
Young Fancy thus, to me divinest name,
To whom, prepared and bathed in heaven,
The cest of amplest power is given:
To few the godlike gift assigns, 20
To gird their blest prophetic loins,
And gaze her visions wild, and feel unmix'd her flame!
