BOOK I

THESHORTERPOEMSIN FOUR BOOKSSHORTER POEMSBOOK IDEDICATED TOH. E. W.1ELEGYClearand gentle stream!Known and loved so longThat hast heard the song,And the idle dreamOf my boyish day;While I once againDown thy margin stray,In the selfsame strainStill my voice is spent,With my old lamentAnd my idle dream,Clear and gentle stream!Where my old seat wasHere again I sit,Where the long boughs knitOver stream and grassA translucent eaves:Where back eddies playShipwreck with the leaves,And the proud swans stray,Sailing one by oneOut of stream and sun,And the fish lie coolIn their chosen pool.Many an afternoonOf the summer dayDreaming here I lay;And I know how soon,Idly at its hour,First the deep bell humsFrom the minster tower,And then evening comes,Creeping up the glade,With her lengthening shade,And the tardy boon,Of her brightening moon.Clear and gentle stream!Ere again I goWhere thou dost not flow,Well does it beseemThee to hear againOnce my youthful song,That familiar strainSilent now so long:Be as I contentWith my old lamentAnd my idle dream,Clear and gentle stream.

THESHORTERPOEMS

IN FOUR BOOKS

SHORTER POEMS

DEDICATED TOH. E. W.

Clearand gentle stream!Known and loved so longThat hast heard the song,And the idle dreamOf my boyish day;While I once againDown thy margin stray,In the selfsame strainStill my voice is spent,With my old lamentAnd my idle dream,Clear and gentle stream!Where my old seat wasHere again I sit,Where the long boughs knitOver stream and grassA translucent eaves:Where back eddies playShipwreck with the leaves,And the proud swans stray,Sailing one by oneOut of stream and sun,And the fish lie coolIn their chosen pool.Many an afternoonOf the summer dayDreaming here I lay;And I know how soon,Idly at its hour,First the deep bell humsFrom the minster tower,And then evening comes,Creeping up the glade,With her lengthening shade,And the tardy boon,Of her brightening moon.Clear and gentle stream!Ere again I goWhere thou dost not flow,Well does it beseemThee to hear againOnce my youthful song,That familiar strainSilent now so long:Be as I contentWith my old lamentAnd my idle dream,Clear and gentle stream.

Clearand gentle stream!

Known and loved so long

That hast heard the song,

And the idle dream

Of my boyish day;

While I once again

Down thy margin stray,

In the selfsame strain

Still my voice is spent,

With my old lament

And my idle dream,

Clear and gentle stream!

Where my old seat wasHere again I sit,Where the long boughs knitOver stream and grassA translucent eaves:Where back eddies playShipwreck with the leaves,And the proud swans stray,Sailing one by oneOut of stream and sun,And the fish lie coolIn their chosen pool.

Where my old seat was

Here again I sit,

Where the long boughs knit

Over stream and grass

A translucent eaves:

Where back eddies play

Shipwreck with the leaves,

And the proud swans stray,

Sailing one by one

Out of stream and sun,

And the fish lie cool

In their chosen pool.

Many an afternoonOf the summer dayDreaming here I lay;And I know how soon,Idly at its hour,First the deep bell humsFrom the minster tower,And then evening comes,Creeping up the glade,With her lengthening shade,And the tardy boon,Of her brightening moon.

Many an afternoon

Of the summer day

Dreaming here I lay;

And I know how soon,

Idly at its hour,

First the deep bell hums

From the minster tower,

And then evening comes,

Creeping up the glade,

With her lengthening shade,

And the tardy boon,

Of her brightening moon.

Clear and gentle stream!Ere again I goWhere thou dost not flow,Well does it beseemThee to hear againOnce my youthful song,That familiar strainSilent now so long:Be as I contentWith my old lamentAnd my idle dream,Clear and gentle stream.

Clear and gentle stream!

Ere again I go

Where thou dost not flow,

Well does it beseem

Thee to hear again

Once my youthful song,

That familiar strain

Silent now so long:

Be as I content

With my old lament

And my idle dream,

Clear and gentle stream.

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