THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)

TO A LADY IN ANSWER TO HER REQUEST THAT I WOULD WRITE HER A POEM

UPON SOME DRAWINGS THAT SHE HAD MADE OF FLOWERS IN THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA

Composed 1845.--Published 1845

One of the "Poems of the Fancy."--ED.

Fair Lady! can I sing of flowers

That in Madeira bloom and fade,

I who ne'er sate within their bowers,

Nor through their sunny lawns have strayed?

How they in sprightly dance are worn

By Shepherd-groom or May-day queen,

Or holy festal pomps adorn,

These eyes have never seen.

Yet tho' to me the pencil's art

No like remembrances can give,

Your portraits still may reach the heart

And there for gentle pleasure live;

While Fancy ranging with free scope

Shall on some lovely Alien set

A name with us endeared to hope,

To peace, or fond regret.[297]

Still as we look with nicer care,

Some new resemblance we may trace:

A Heart's-ease will perhaps be there,

A Speedwell may not want its place.

And so may we, with charmèd mind

Beholding what your skill has wrought,

Another Star-of-Bethlehem find,

A new[298] Forget-me-not.

From earth to heaven with motion fleet

From heaven to earth our thoughts will pass,

A Holy-thistle here we meet

And there a Shepherd's weather-glass;

And haply some familiar name

Shall grace the fairest, sweetest, plant

Whose presence cheers the drooping frame

Of English Emigrant.

Gazing she feels its power beguile

Sad thoughts, and breathes with easier breath;

Alas! that meek that tender smile

Is but a harbinger of death:

And pointing with a feeble hand

She says, in faint words by sighs broken,

Bear for me to my native land

This precious Flower, true love's last token.

[297] 1845.

And there in sweet communion live:

Yet those loved most, in which we own

A touching likeness which they bear

To flower or herb, by Nature sown,

To breathe our English air.

MS.

And there in sweet communion live

Admired for beauty of their own,

Loved for the likeness some may bear

To flower ...

MS.

Thus tempted Fancy with free scope

Will range, and on these aliens set

Names among us endeared to none,

To hearts a fond regret.

MS.

So tempted ...

May range, ...

MS.

[298] Nor miss ...

MS.