On a sunny brae alone I lay One summer afternoon； It was the marriage-time of May, With her young lover, June.

    From her mother's heart seemed loath¹ to part That queen of bridal charms, But her father smiled on the fairest child He ever held in his arms.

    The trees did wave their plumy crests², The glad birds carolled clear； And I, of all the wedding guests, Was only sullen³ there！

    There was not one, but wished to shun⁴ My aspect void of cheer； The very gray rocks, looking on, Asked, "What do you here？"

    And I could utter no reply； In sooth, I did not know Why I had brought a clouded eye To greet the general glow.

    So, resting on a heathy bank, I took my heart to me； And we together sadly sank Into a reverie.

    We thought, "When winter comes again, Where will these bright things be？ All vanished, like a vision vain, An unreal mockery！

    "The birds that now so blithely⁵ sing, Through deserts, frozen dry, Poor spectres of the perished spring, In famished⁶ troops will fly.

    "And why should we be glad at all？ The leaf is hardly green, Before a token of its fall Is on the surface seen！"

    Now, whether it were really so, I never could be sure； But as in fit of peevish⁷ woe⁸, I stretched me on the moor⁹,

    A thousand thousand gleaming fires Seemed kindling¹⁰ in the air； A thousand thousand silvery lyres Resounded¹¹ far and near：

    Methought, the very breath I breathed Was full of sparks divine, And all my heather-couch was wreathed By that celestial¹² shine！

    And, while the wide earth echoing rung To that strange minstrelsy The little glittering spirits sung, Or seemed to sing, to me：

    "O mortal！ mortal！ let them die； Let time and tears destroy, That we may overflow¹³ the sky With universal joy！

    "Let grief distract the sufferer's breast, And night obscure his way； They hasten him to endless rest, And everlasting¹⁴ day.

    "To thee the world is like a tomb, A desert's naked shore； To us, in unimagined bloom, It brightens more and more！

    "And, could we lift the veil, and give One brief glimpse to thine eye, Thou wouldst rejoice for those that live, BECAUSE they live to die."

    The music ceased； the noonday dream, Like dream of night, withdrew； But Fancy, still, will sometimes deem Her fond creation true.