The Venetian Bracelet, the Lost Pleiad, a History of the Lyre, and Other Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ... A HISTORY OF THE LYRE Sketches indeed, from that most passionate page, A woman's heart, of feelings, thoughts, that make The atmosphere in which her spirit moves; But, like all other earthly elements, O'ercast with clouds, now dark, now touch'd with light, With rainbows, sunshine, showers, moonlight, stars, Chasing each other's change. I fain would trace Its brightness and its blackness; and these lines Are consecrate to annals such as those, That count the pulses of the beating heart. A HISTORY OF THE LYRE. 'T is strange how much is mark'd on memory, In which we may have interest, but no part; How circumstance will bring together links In destinies the most dissimilar. This face, whose rudely-pencill'd sketch you hold, Recalls to me a host of pleasant thoughts, And some more serious.--This is Eulalie, Once the delight of Rome for that fine skill With which she woke the lute when answering With its sweet echoes her melodious words. She had the rich perfection of that gift, Her Italy's own ready song, which seems The poetry caught from a thousand flowers; The diamond sunshine, and the lulling air, So pure, yet full of perfume; fountains tuned Like natural lutes, from whispering green leaves; The low peculiar murmur of the pines: From pictured saints, that look their native heaven--Statues whose grace is a familiar thing; The ruin'd shrine of mournful loveliness; The stately church, awfully beautiful; Their climate, and their language, whose least word Is melody--these overfill the heart Till, fountain-like, the lips o'erflow with song, And music is to them an element.--I saw Eulalia: all was in the scene Graceful association, slight surprise, That are so much in youth. It was in June, Night, but such night as only is not day, --For...