SEEST thou yon shelter'd vale of various dye, Refreshing prospect to the warrior's eye? Yon dusky grove, yon garden blooming fair, The turf of velvet, and of musk the air? Surcharged with sweets the languid river glides, The lilies bending o'er its silver tides; While through the copse in bashful beauty glows The dark luxuriance of the lurking rose. Now seen, now lost, amid the flowery maze, With slender foot the nimble pheasant strays; The ringdove's murmur lulls the cypress dell, And richest notes of tranced Philomel. Still, still the same, through every circling year, Unwearied spring renews an Eden here. And mark, my friend, where many a sylph-like maid Weaves the lithe dance beneath the citron shade! Where chief, of Touran's king the matchless child, Beams like a sun-ray through this scented wild; Sitara next, her sister, beauteous queen, Than rose or fairest jasmine fairer seen; And last, their Turkish maids, whose sleepy eyes Laugh from beneath each envious veil's disguise; Whose length of locks the coal-black musk disclose, Their forms the cypress, and their cheeks the rose; While on their sugar'd lips the grape's rich water glows. How blest the traveller not forbid to stay In such sweet bowers the scorching summer's day! How famed the knight whose dauntless arm should bear To great Khi-Kusroo's court a Turkish fair! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SESTINA: 1. OF THE LADY PIETRA DEGLI SCROVIGNI by DANTE ALIGHIERI TWO WITCHES: 2. THE PAUPER WITCH OF GRAFTON by ROBERT FROST SONNET: 11 by RICHARD BARNFIELD THE WELCOME by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN GORGIO LAD by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR |