As if they from a silver tree had fallen-- And oaken leaves that, driven by whirling blasts, Sunk down, and lay immersed in dead repose 50 For Time’s invisible tooth to prey upon Unsightly objects and uncoveted, Till thou with crystal bead-drops didst encrust Their skeletons, turned to brilliant ornaments. But, from thy bosom, should some venturous[396] hand 55 Abstract those gleaming relics, and uplift them, However gently, toward the vulgar air, At once their tender brightness disappears, Leaving the intermeddler to upbraid His folly. Thus (I feel it while I speak), 60 Thus, with the fibres of these thoughts it fares; And oh! how much, of all that love creates Or beautifies, like changes undergo, Suffers like loss when drawn out of the soul, Its silent laboratory! Words should say 65 (Could they depict the marvels of thy cell) How often I have marked a plumy fern From the live rock with grace inimitable Bending its apex toward a paler self Reflected all in perfect lineaments-- 70 Shadow and substance kissing point to point In mutual stillness; or, if some faint breeze Entering the cell gave restlessness to one, The other, glassed in thy unruffled breast, Partook of every motion, met, retired, 75 And met again. Such playful sympathy, Such delicate caress as in the shape Of this green plant had aptly recompensed For baffled lips and disappointed arms And hopeless pangs, the spirit of that youth, 80 The fair Narcissus by some pitying God Changed to a crimson flower; when he, whose pride Provoked a retribution too severe, Had pined; upon his watery duplicate Wasting that love the nymphs implored in vain. 85 Thus while my Fancy wanders, thou, clear Spring, Moved (shall I say?) like a dear friend who meets A parting moment with her loveliest look, And seemingly her happiest, look so fair It frustrates its own purpose, and recalls 90 The grieved one whom it meant to send away-- Dost tempt me by disclosures exquisite To linger, bending over thee: for now, What witchcraft, mild enchantress, may with thee Compare! thy earthly bed a moment past 95 Palpable to sight as the dry ground, Eludes perception, not by rippling air Concealed, nor through effect of some impure Upstirring; but, abstracted by a charm Of my own cunning, earth mysteriously 100 From under thee hath vanished, and slant beams The silent inquest of a western sun, Assisting, lucid well-spring! Thou revealest Communion without check of herbs and flowers,