Poor little Foal of an oppressed Race! I love the languid Patience of thy face: And oft with gentle hand I give thee bread, And clap thy ragged Coat, and pat thy head. But what thy dulled Spirits hath dismayed, That never thou dost sport along the glade? And (most unlike the nature of things young) That earthward still thy moveless head is hung? Do thy prophetic Fears anticipate, Meek Child of Misery! thy future fate? The starving meal, and all the thousand aches “Which patient Merit of the Unworthy takes?” Innocent Foal! thou poor despised Forlorn! I hail thee Brother――spite of the fool’s scorn! And fain would take thee with me, in the Dell Of Peace and mild Equality to dwell, Where Toil shall call the charmer Health his bride, And Laughter tickle Plenty’s ribless side! How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play, And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay! Yea! and more musically sweet to me Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be, Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest The aching of pale Fashion’s vacant breast! ――――:o:―――― KUBLA KHAN. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills Where blossomed many an incense bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves, It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! * * * * * S. T. COLERIDGE. ―――― A FRAGMENT――COMPOSED IN A DREAM. In Hungerford did some wise man[88] A stately bridge of wire decree, Where Thames, the muddy river, ran, Down to a muddier sea. Above the people rose its piers, Their shadows on the waters fell; Year after year, for many years, All unapproachable! And filmy wires through æther spread, From such proud piers’ unfinished head, Kept up a mild communication, Worthy of their exalted station; And many gazers far below, Wafted by the waveless tide, Which ’neath those slender wires did flow, Upturned their eyes and sighed―― “If that _air_ bridge,” they whispered low, “Vos broad enough to let us pass, Ve’d not av so much round to go, As now ve av――alas!”