XIX. "For those and theirs, by Nature's law Have faded long ago; But in these latter springs I saw Your own Olivia blow, XX. "From when she gambolled on the greens, A baby-germ, to when The maiden blossoms of her teens Could number five from ten. XXI. "I swear, by leaf, and wind, and rain, (And hear me with thine ears,) That, though I circle in the grain Five hundred rings of years XXII. "Yet, since I first could cast a shade, Did never creature pass So slightly, musically made, XXIII. "For as to fairies, that will flit XXIV. O, hide thy knotted knees in fern. And overlook the chace; And from thy topmost branch discern The roofs of Sumner-place. XXV. Bu, whereon I carved her name That oft hast heard my vows, Declare wher last Olivia came To sport beneath thy boughs. XXVI. "O yesterday, you know, the fair Was holden a: the town; Her father left his good arm-chair, And rode his hunter down. XXVII. "And with him Albert came on his. I looked at him with joy: As cowslip unto oxlip is, So seems she to the boy. XXVIII. "An hour had past—and, sitting straight Within the low-wheeled chaise, Her mother trundled to the gate Behind the dappled grays. XXIX. "But, as for her, she staid at home, And down the way you use to come XXX. "She left the novel half-uncut Upon the rosewood shelf; She left the new piano shut: She could not please herself. XXXI. "Then ran she, gamesome as the colt, And livelier than a lark She sent her voice through all the holt XXXII. "A light wind chased her on the wing, As close as might be would he cling ХХХІІІ. "But light as any wind that blows So fleetly did she stir, The flower, she touched on, dipt and rose, And turned to look at her. XXXIV. "And here she came, and round me played, And sang to me the whole Of those three stanzas that you made XXXV. "And in a fit of frolic mirth She strove to span my waist: Alas, I was so broad of girth, I could not be embraced. XXXVI. "I wished myself the fair young beech That here beside me stands, That round me, clasping each in each, XXXVII. "Yet seemed the pressure thrice as sweet As woodbine's fragile hold, Or when I feel about my feet The berried briony fold." XXXVIII. O muffle round thy knees with fern, Long may thy topmost branch discern The roofs of Sumner-place! |