Book 2 — TO A LADY[424:1]
Reading edition
TO A LADY[424:1]
WITH FALCONER'S SHIPWRECK
Ah! not by Cam or Isis, famous streams, In archéd groves, the youthful poet's choice; Nor while half-listening, 'mid delicious dreams, To harp and song from lady's hand and voice; Not yet while gazing in sublimer mood 5 On cliff, or cataract, in Alpine dell; Nor in dim cave with bladdery sea-weed strewed. Framing wild fancies to the ocean's swell; Our sea-bard sang this song! which still he sings, And sings for thee, sweet friend! Hark, Pity, hark! 10 Now mounts, now totters on the tempest's wings, Now groans, and shivers, the replunging bark! 'Cling to the shrouds!' In vain! The breakers roar— Death shrieks! With two alone of all his clan Forlorn the poet paced the Grecian shore, 15 No classic roamer, but a shipwrecked man! [425]Say then, what muse inspired these genial strains, And lit his spirit to so bright a flame? The elevating thought of suffered pains, Which gentle hearts shall mourn; but chief, the name 20 Of gratitude! remembrances of friend, Or absent or no more! shades of the Past, Which Love makes substance! Hence to thee I send, O dear as long as life and memory last! I send with deep regards of heart and head, 25 Sweet maid, for friendship formed! this work to thee: And thou, the while thou canst not choose but shed A tear for Falconer, wilt remember me.
? 1814.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] To a Lady With Falkner's 'Shipwreck' S. L.
[
2
]
archéd] cloyst'ring F. F.
[
3
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'mid] midst F. F.
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4
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lady's] woman's F. F.
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5
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sublimer] diviner F. F.
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6
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On torrent falls, on woody mountain dell F. F.
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7
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sea-weed] sea-weeds F. F.
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8
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Attuning wild tales to the ocean's swell F. F.
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9
]
this] this F. F.
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10
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thee] thee F. F.
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11
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It mounts, it totters F. F.
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12
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It groans, it quivers F. F.
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14
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of] and F. F.
[
15
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Forlorn the] The toil-worn F. F.
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17-20
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Say then what power evoked such genial strains And beckon'd godlike to the trembling Muse? The thought not pleasureless of suffer'd pains But chiefly friendship's voice, her holy dues.
F. F.
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21
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Demanding dear remembrances of friend F. F.
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22
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Which love makes real! Thence F. F.
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24
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life] love F. F.
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26
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Sweet Maid for friendship framed this song to thee F. F.
[
28
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Falconer] Falkner S. L.: Faulkner F. F. me] me S. L., 1828, 1829.