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Thou still unravished bride of quietness,
__________Thou foster child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
__________A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
__________Of deities or mortals, or of both,
___________________In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
__________What men or gods are these? What maidens loath?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
__________What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
__________Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared,
__________Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
__________Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
___________________Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal — yet, do not grieve;
___________________She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
__________Forever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
__________Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
__________Forever piping songs forever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
__________Forever warm and still to be enjoyed,
__________________Forever panting, and forever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
__________That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloyed,
__________________A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.
Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
__________To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
__________And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed?
What little town by river or sea shore,
__________Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
___________________Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets forevermore
__________Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
___________________Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.
O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede (embroidery)
__________Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
__________Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
__________When old age shall this generation waste,
___________________Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
__________Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty, — that is all
___________________Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."