Читать книгу The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to Saxe - Various - Страница 49

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As the chill'd robin, bound to Florida

Upon a morn of autumn, crosses flying

The air-track of a snipe most passing fair—

Yet colder in her blood than she is fair—

And as that robin lingers on the wing,

And feels the snipe's flight in the eddying air,

And loves her for her coldness not the less—

But fain would win her to that warmer sky

Where love lies waking with the fragrant stars—

Lo I—a languisher for sunnier climes,

Where fruit, leaf, blossom, on the trees forever

Image the tropic deathlessness of love—

Have met, and long'd to win thee, fairest lady,

To a more genial clime than cold Broadway!

Tranquil and effortless thou glidest on,

As doth the swan upon the yielding water,

And with a cheek like alabaster cold!

But as thou didst divide the amorous air

Just opposite the Astor, and didst lift

That vail of languid lashes to look in

At Leary's tempting window—lady! then

My heart sprang in beneath that fringed vail,

Like an adventurous bird that would escape

To some warm chamber from the outer cold!

And there would I delightedly remain,

And close that fringed window with a kiss,

And in the warm sweet chamber of thy breast,

Be prisoner forever!