Percy Bysshe Shelley - Matilda Gathering Flowers lyrics

FROM THE PURGATORIO OF DANTE, CANTO 28, LINES 1-51 [Published in part (lines 1-8, 22-51) by Medwin, "The Angler in Wales", 1834, "Life of Shelley", 1847; reprinted in full by Garnett, "Relics of Shelley", 1862.] And earnest to explore within—around— The divine wood, whose thick green living woof Tempered the young day to the sight—I wound Up the green slope, beneath the forest's roof, With slow, soft steps leaving the mountain's steep, And sought those inmost labyrinths, motion-proof Against the air, that in that stillness deep And solemn, struck upon my forehead bare, The slow, soft stroke of a continuous… In which the … leaves tremblingly were All bent towards that part where earliest The sacred hill obscures the morning air. Yet were they not so shaken from the rest, But that the birds, perched on the utmost spray, Incessantly renewing their blithe quest, With perfect joy received the early day, Singing within the glancing leaves, whose sound Kept a low burden to their roundelay, Such as from bough to bough gathers around The pine forest on bleak Chia**i's shore, When Aeolus Sirocco has unbound. My slow steps had already borne me o'er Such space within the antique wood, that I Perceived not where I entered any more,— When, lo! a stream whose little waves went by, Bending towards the left through gra** that grew Upon its bank, impeded suddenly My going on. Water of purest hue On earth, would appear turbid and impure Compared with this, whose unconcealing dew, Dark, dark, yet clear, moved under the obscure Eternal shades, whose interwoven looms The rays of moon or sunlight ne'er endure. I moved not with my feet, but mid the glooms Pierced with my charmed eye, contemplating The mighty multitude of fresh May blooms Which starred that night, when, even as a thing That suddenly, for blank astonishment, Charms every sense, and makes all thought take wing,— A solitary woman! and she went Singing and gathering flower after flower, With which her way was painted and besprent. 'Bright lady, who, if looks had ever power To bear true witness of the heart within, Dost bask under the beams of love, come lower Towards this bank. I prithee let me win This much of thee, to come, that I may hear Thy song: like Proserpine, in Enna's glen, Thou seemest to my fancy, singing here And gathering flowers, as that fair maiden when She lost the Spring, and Ceres her, more dear.