[Pg 222]

A BALLAD OF BATH

Like a queen enchanted who may not laugh or weep,

Glad at heart and guarded from change and care like ours,

Girt about with beauty by days and nights that creep

Soft as breathless ripples that softly shoreward sweep,

Lies the lovely city whose grace no grief deflowers.

Age and grey forgetfulness, time that shifts and veers,

Touch not thee, our fairest, whose charm no rival nears,

Hailed as England's Florence of one whose praise gives grace,

Landor, once thy lover, a name that love reveres:

Dawn and noon and sunset are one before thy face.

Dawn whereof we know not, and noon whose fruit we reap,

Garnered up in record of years that fell like flowers,

Sunset liker sunrise along the shining steep

Whence thy fair face lightens, and where thy soft springs leap,

Crown at once and gird thee with grace of guardian powers

[Pg 223]

Loved of men beloved of us, souls that fame inspheres,

All thine air hath music for him who dreams and hears;

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