Volume 2 / Part 2 / Act 1 — M
Reading edition
YOUTH AND AGE
[Vide ante, p. 439.]
MS. I
10 Sept. 1823. Wednesday Morning, 10 o'clock
On the Tenth Day of September, Eighteen hundred Twenty Three, Wednesday morn, and I remember Ten on the Clock the Hour to be [The Watch and Clock do both agree] 5
An Air that whizzed διὰ ἐγκεφάλου (right across the diameter of my Brain) exactly like a Hummel Bee, alias Dumbeldore, the gentleman with Rappee Spenser (sic), with bands of Red, and Orange Plush Breeches, close by my ear, at once sharp and burry, right over the summit of Quantock [item of Skiddaw 10 (erased)] at earliest Dawn just between the Nightingale that I stopt to hear in the Copse at the Foot of Quantock, and the first Sky-Lark that was a Song-Fountain, dashing up and sparkling to the Ear's eye, in full column, or ornamented Shaft of sound in the order of Gothic Extravaganza, out of Sight, over 15 the Cornfields on the Descent of the Mountain on the other side—out of sight, tho' twice I beheld its mute shoot downward in the sunshine like a falling star of silver:—
Aria Spontanea
Flowers are lovely, Love is flower-like, Friendship is a shelt'ring tree— 20 O the Joys, that came down shower-like, Of Beauty, Truth, and Liberty, When I was young, ere I was old! [O Youth that wert so glad, so bold, What quaint disguise hast thou put on? 25 Would'st make-believe that thou art gone? O Youth! thy Vesper Bell] has not yet toll'd. Thou always were a Masker bold— What quaint Disguise hast now put on? To make believe that thou art gone! 30 O Youth, so true, so fair, so free, Thy Vesper-bell hath not yet toll'd, Thou always, &c.
Ah! was it not enough, that Thou In Thy eternal Glory should outgo me? 35 Would'st thou not Grief's sad Victory allow * * * * * Hope's a Breeze that robs the Blossoms Fancy feeds, and murmurs the Bee—— * * * * *
MS. II
1
Verse, that Breeze mid blossoms straying Where Hope clings feeding like a Bee. Both were mine: Life went a Maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young. When I was young! ah woeful When! Ah for the Change twixt now and then! This House of Life, not built with hands Where now I sigh, where once I sung.
Or [This snail-like House, not built with hands, This Body that does me grievous wrong.]
O'er Hill and dale and sounding Sands. How lightly then it flash'd along— Like those trim Boats, unknown of yore, On Winding Lakes and Rivers wide, That ask no aid of Sail or Oar, That fear no spite of Wind or Tide.
Pencil Nought car'd this Body for wind or weather, When youth and I liv'd in't together.
2
Flowers are lovely, Love is flower-like; Friendship is a sheltering Tree; O the joys that came down shower-like Of Beauty, Truth and Liberty When I was young 5 When I was young, ah woeful when Ah for the change twixt now and then In Heat or Frost we car'd not whether Night and day we lodged together woeful when When I was young—ah words of agony 10 Ah for the change 'twixt now and then O youth my Home-Mate dear so long, so long: I thought that thou and I were one I scarce believe that thou art gone Thou always wert a Masker bold I mark that change, in garb and size 15 heave the Breath Those grisled Locks I well behold But still thy Heart is in thine eyes What strange disguise hast now put on To make believe that thou art gone
Or [O youth for years so many so sweet 20 It seem'd that Thou and I were one That still I nurse the fond deceit And scarce believe that thou art gone]
[1087]When I was young—ere I was old Ah! happy ere, ah! woeful When 25 When I was young, ah woeful when Which says that Youth and I are twain! O Youth! for years so many and sweet 'Tis known that Thou and I were one I'll think it but a false conceit 30 Tis but a gloomy It cannot be, I'll not believe that thou art gone Thy Vesper Bell has not yet toll'd always And thou wert still a masker bold What hast Some strange disguise thou'st now put on To make believe that thou art gone? 35 I see these Locks in silvery slips, This dragging gait, this alter'd size But spring-tide blossoms on thy Lips And the young Heart is in thy eyes tears take sunshine from Life is but Thought so think I will 40 That Youth and I are Housemates still. Ere I was old Ere I was old! ah woeful ere Which tells me youth's no longer here! O Youth, &c. 45 Dewdrops are the Gems of Morning, But the Tears of mournful Eve: Where no Hope is Life's a Warning me That only serves to make us grieve, Now I am old. 50