So drooped Adonis bathed in sanguine dew.
Of his death-wound, when he from innocent air
The gentlest breath of resignation drew;
While Venus in a passion of despair

Rent, weeping over him, her golden hair,
Spangled with drops of that celestial shower.
She suffered, as Immortals sometimes do;
But pangs more lasting far, that Lover knew
Who first, weighed down by scorn, in some lone
bower

Did press this semblance of unpitied smart

Into the service of his constant heart,

His own dejection, downcast Flower! could share With thine, and gave the mournful name which thou wilt ever bear.

XXIX.

COMPANION TO THE FOREGOING.

NEVER enlivened with the liveliest ray
That fosters growth or checks or cheers decay,
Nor by the heaviest rain-drops more depressed,
This Flower, that first appeared as Summer's guest,
Preserves her beauty 'mid autumnal leaves
And to her mournful habits fondly cleaves.
When files of stateliest plants have ceased to bloom,
One after one submitting to their doom,

When her coevals each and all are fled,

What keeps her thus reclined upon her lonesome bed?

The old mythologists, more impressed than we Of this late day by character in tree

Or herb, that claimed peculiar sympathy,
Or by the silent lapse of fountain clear,
Or with the language of the viewless air
By bird or beast made vocal, sought a cause
To solve the mystery, not in Nature's laws,
But in Man's fortunes. Hence a thousand tales
Sung to the plaintive lyre in Grecian vales.
Nor doubt that something of their spirit swayed
The fancy-stricken Youth or heart-sick Maid,
Who, while each stood companionless, and eyed
This undeparting Flower in crimson dyed,
Thought of a wound which death is slow to cure,
A fate that has endured and will endure,
And, patience coveting yet passion feeding,
Called the dejected Lingerer, Love-lies-Bleeding.

XXX.

RURAL ILLUSIONS.

SYLPH was it? or a Bird more bright

Than those of fabulous stock?

A second darted by; and lo!

Another of the flock,

Through sunshine flitting from the bough

To nestle in the rock. Transient deception! a gay freak

Of April's mimicries!

Those brilliant strangers, hailed with joy

Among the budding trees,

Proved last year's leaves, pushed from the spray To frolic on the breeze.

Maternal Flora! show thy face,
And let thy hand be seen,

Thy hand here sprinkling tiny flowers,
That, as they touch the green,
Take root (so seems it), and look up
In honor of their Queen.

Yet, sooth, those little starry specks,
That not in vain aspired

To be confounded with live growths,
Most dainty, most admired,
Were only blossoms dropped from twigs
Of their own offspring tired.

Not such the World's illusive shows;

Her wingless flutterings,

Her blossoms, which, though shed, outbrave

The floweret as it springs,

For the undeceived, smile as they may,

Are melancholy things:

But gentle Nature plays her part

With ever-varying wiles,

And transient feignings with plain truth
So well she reconciles,

That those fond Idlers most are pleased
Whom oftenest she beguiles.

1832.

XXXI.

THE KITTEN AND FALLING LEAVES.

THAT way look, my Infant, lo!
What a pretty baby-show.!

See the Kitten on the wall,

Sporting with the leaves that fall,

Withered leaves,-one, two, and three,—

From the lofty elder-tree!

Through the calm and frosty air
Of this morning bright and fair,
Eddying round and round, they sink
Softly, slowly one might think,
From the motions that are made,

Every little leaf conveyed
Sylph or Faery hither tending,
To this lower world descending,
Each invisible and mute,

In his wavering parachute.

But the Kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts!

First at one, and then its fellow
Just as light and just as yellow;

Now they stop and there are none: What intenseness of desire

In her upward eye of fire!

With a tiger-leap half-way

Now she meets the coming prey,

Lets it go as fast, and then

Has it in her power again :

Now she works with three or four,

Like an Indian conjurer;

Quick as he in feats of art,

Far beyond in joy of heart.

Were her antics played in the eye
Of a thousand standers-by,

Clapping hands with shout and stare,
What would little Tabby care
For the plaudits of the crowd?
Over happy to be proud,
Over wealthy in the treasure
Of her own exceeding pleasure!

'Tis a pretty baby-treat; Nor, I deem, for me unmeet; Here for neither Babe nor me Other playmate can I see. Of the countless living things, That with stir of feet and wings, (In the sun or under shade,