England and Yesterday

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>ON LEAVING WINCHESTER.</h2> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse">A palmer’s kiss on thy familiar marge,</div> <div class="verse">My oriel city, whence the soul hath sight</div> <div class="verse">Of passional yesterdays, all gold and large,</div> <div class="verse">Arising to enrich our narrow night:</div> <div class="verse">Though others bless thee, who so blest before</div> <div class="verse">Hath pastured, from the violent time apart,</div> <div class="verse">And laved in supersensual light the heart</div> <div class="verse">Alone with thy magnificent No More?</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse">Sweet court of roses now, sweet camp of bees!</div> <div class="verse">The hills that lean to thy white bed at dawn,</div> <div class="verse">Hear, for the clash of raging dynasties,</div> <div class="verse">Laughter of boys about a branchy lawn.</div> <div class="verse">Hast thou a stain? Let ivy cover all;</div> <div class="verse">Nor seem of greatness disinhabited,</div> <div class="verse">While spirits in their wonted splendour tread</div> <div class="verse">From close to close, by Wolvesey’s idle wall.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="verse">Bright fins against thy lucid water leap,</div> <div class="verse">And nigh thy towers the nesting wood-dove dwell;</div> <div class="verse">Be lenient winter, and long moons, and sleep</div> <div class="verse">Upon thee, but on me the sharp Farewell.</div> <div class="verse">Happy art thou, O clad and crowned with rest!</div> <div class="verse">Happy the shepherd (would that I were he!)</div> <div class="verse">Whose early way is step for step with thee,</div> <div class="verse">Whose old brow fades on thine immortal breast.</div> </div></div> </div> <hr> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />