in Five Books

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

1. Bks. I-IV. Clarendon Press. Geo. Bell & Sons, Oct. 1890. Reprinted, Nov. 1890, 1891, 1894.

2. Bks. I-V.

3. Do. do.

Private Press of H. Daniel. Oxford, 1894. Clarendon Press. George Bell & Sons, 1896.

4. Cheap issue of 3. 1899.

Reprinted, 1899.

5. Poetical works of R. B. Smith, Elder & Co., 1899, vol. II. An account of earlier issues of first four books is given in notes at end of 5.

SHORTER POEMS

BOOK I

DEDICATED TO H. E. W.

I

ELEGY

CLEAR and 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 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 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 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.