Book 2 — MELANCHOLY[73:1]
Reading edition
MELANCHOLY[73:1]
A FRAGMENT
Stretch'd on a moulder'd Abbey's broadest wall, Where ruining ivies propp'd the ruins steep— Her folded arms wrapping her tatter'd pall, [73:2]Had Melancholy mus'd herself to sleep. The fern was press'd beneath her hair, 5 The dark green Adder's Tongue[74:1] was there; And still as pass'd the flagging sea-gale weak, The long lank leaf bow'd fluttering o'er her cheek. That pallid cheek was flush'd: her eager look Beam'd eloquent in slumber! Inly wrought, 10 Imperfect sounds her moving lips forsook, And her bent forehead work'd with troubled thought. Strange was the dream——
? 1794.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
[
1
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Upon a mouldering Letter, Aug. 26, 1802.
[
2
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Where ruining] Whose running M. C. propp'd] prop Letter, Aug. 26, 1802.
[
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pass'd] came Letter, 1802. sea-gale] sea-gales M. C., Letter, 1802.
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The] Her Letter, 1802.
[
9
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That] Her Letter, 1802.
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Not in Letter 1802.
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Strange was the dream that fill'd her soul, Nor did not whisp'ring spirits roll A mystic tumult, and a fateful rhyme, Mix'd with wild shapings of the unborn time!
M. C., Sibylline Leaves, 1817.