Swiftly is the morn-tide fleeting

Swiftly is the morn-tide fleeting,
On my willing muse I'll call,
For the sun is now retreating
To his golden southern hall:
Morning's crowds are all departed
From the thickly-peopled street;
All the city's walks deserted,
Shady solitudes to greet.

But by thee I'll not be driven,
Fiercely shining lamp on high —
Measurer of our days from heaven —
Year-disposer — glorious eye;
Mist-absorber — spring-returner —
Day-prolonger — summer's mate;
Beast-annoyer — visage-burner —
Fair-one's spoiler — maiden's hate; —

Cloud-disperser — darkness-breaker —
Moon-surpriser — starlight-thief;
Torch-conductor — shadow-maker —
Rogue-discoverer — eyes' relief;
Linen-bleacher — noiseless stroller —
All-observer — gilding all;
Dust-disturber — planet-roller —
Traveller's friend, and day-break's call; —

Let thy flashes be directed
To the waste, from me aloof:
I am from their heat protected
By my sheltering linden-roof.
When thy Dog-star, first appearing,
Casts around his scorching eye,
Here, no more his anger fearing,
Him I call, and him defy.

Yes! let all the mists, exhaling
From the marshes, meet and blend;
Let them all, at once assailing,
In one giant mass descend.
Still at rest, and uncomplaining,
Nor of aught that falls afraid,
Cool in heat, and when 'tis raining
Dry beneath my linden-shade.

Oh! how often have I spoken
Of the zephyr's fragrant sigh,
(Which through playful leaves has broken,
And in murmurs glided by
For the love of summer pining,)
Doubting whether I might be
On the cool green's breast reclining,
Or a gale of greenery.

"Frigid Chloris! marble-hearted!"
(Late I heard a lover mourn,
Who with quenchless passion smarted,
Hopeless of a kind return) —
"Chloris, whom I love sincerely,
And for whom I sigh and pray,
Truth to thee was bought more dearly
Than thou ever canst repay.

"Has the fierce and weakening power
Of the exhausting summer-heat
Made thee oft-times seek the bower,
And the linden's cool retreat?
Hast thou here so soft been shaded
By the foliage which it bears,
And in peacefulness evaded
All the noontide's fretful cares, —

"Thinking never of the anguish,
Thinking never of the throes,
He must feel, whose heart must languish
'Neath a flame that always glows?
He need never fear the splendour
Of a sun in distant skies,
But he must at once surrender
To thy near and brilliant eyes: —

"To thy brilliant eyes, whose glances
Led me when a thoughtless boy;
Causes of my feverish trances,
And my terror and my joy.
Eyes! which kill your faithful lover
With your hot and poisonous ray, —
Will ye ne'er to her discover
How I waste and pine away?

"Through the crystal jet that sways me,
May my Chloris never see
That one gentle sigh might raise me
From the depths of misery:
Misery uncontrol'd — unbounded —
Only sway'd when she is near;
Depth of mystery never sounded!
Mystery she alone can clear."

Of his love (he could not quell it),
Of her coldness more he said,
But I have no time to tell it,
Caution'd by the evening's shade.
Suitors! would you learn the history
Which my muse would fain conceal,
In your bosoms read the mystery —
All its pains and pleasures feel!