Fiesole Idyl

Here, where precipitate Spring, with one light bound     Into hot Summer's lusty arms, expires,     And where go forth at morn, at eve, at night,     Soft airs that want the lute to play with 'em,     And softer sighs that know not what they want,     Aside a wall, beneath an orange-tree,     Whose tallest flowers could tell the lowlier ones     Of sights in Fiesole right up above,     While I was gazing a few paces off     At what they seem'd to show me with their nods,     Their frequent whispers and their pointing shoots,     A gentle maid came down the garden-steps     And gathered the pure treasure in her lap.     I heard the branches rustle, and stept forth     To drive the ox away, or mule, or goat,     Such I believed it must be. How could I     Let beast o'erpower them? When hath wind or rain     Borne hard upon weak plant that wanted me,     And I (however they might bluster round)     Walkt off? 'Twere most ungrateful: for sweet scents     Are the swift vehicles of still sweeter thoughts,     And nurse and pillow the dull memory     That would let drop without them her best stores.     They bring me tales of youth and tones of love,     And 'tis and ever was my wish and way     To let all flowers live freely, and all die     (Whene'er their Genius bids their souls depart)     Among their kindred in their native place.     I never pluck the rose; the violet's head     Hath shaken with my breath upon its bank     And not reproacht me; the ever-sacred cup     Of the pure lily hath between my hands     Felt safe, unsoil'd, nor lost one grain of gold.     I saw the light that made the glossy leaves     More glossy; the fair arm, the fairer cheek     Warmed by the eye intent on its pursuit;     I saw the foot that, although half-erect     From its grey slipper, could not lift her up     To what she wanted: I held down a branch     And gather'd her some blossoms; since their hour     Was come, and bees had wounded them, and flies     Of harder wing were working their way thro'     And scattering them in fragments under-foot.     So crisp were some, they rattled unevolved,     Others, ere broken off, fell into shells,     For such appear the petals when detacht,     Unbending, brittle, lucid, white like snow,     And like snow not seen thro', by eye or sun:     Yet every one her gown received from me     Was fairer than the first. I thought not so,     But so she praised them to reward my care.     I said, 'You find the largest.'     'This indeed,'     Cried she, 'is large and sweet.' She held one forth,     Whether for me to look at or to stake     She knew not, nor did I; but taking it     Would best have solved (and this she felt) her doubt.     I dared not touch it; for it seemed a part     Of her own self; fresh, full, the most mature     Of blossoms, yet a blossom; with a touch     To fall, and yet unfallen. She drew back     The boon she tender'd, and then, finding not     The ribbon at her waist to fix it in,     Dropt it, as loath to drop it, on the rest.