Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HOWEL'S SONG by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS

Poet Analysis

First Line: PRESS ON, MY STEED! I HEAR THE SWELL
Last Line: THAN LIVE IN RAYLESS NIGHT!
Subject(s): HOWEL AB EINION LLYGLIW (14TH CENTURY); LOVE; MYFANWY VYCHAN (14TH CENTURY); WALES; WELSHMEN; WELSHWOMEN;

PRESS on, my steed! I hear the swell
Of Valle Crucis' vesper-bell
Sweet floating from the holy dell
O'er woods and waters round.
Perchance the maid I love, e'en now,
From Dinas Bran's majestic brow,
Looks o'er the fairy world below,
And listens to the sound!
I feel her presence on the scene!
The summer air is more serene!
The deep woods wave in richer green,
The wave more gently flows!
O fair as Ocean's curling foam!
Lo! with the balmy hour I come --
The hour that brings the wanderer home,
The weary to repose!
Haste! on each mountain's darkening crest
The glow hath died, the shadows rest,
The twilight star on Deva's breast
Gleams tremulously bright;
Speed for Myfanwy's bower on high!
Though scorn may wound me from her eye,
Oh! better by the sun to die,
Than live in rayless night!



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