Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HIS DREAM, by JOHN SUCKLING


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HIS DREAM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On a still, silent night, scarce could I number
Last Line: And then---I awak'd.
Subject(s): Dreams; Nightmares


ON a still, silent night, scarce could I number
One of the clock, but that a golden slumber
Had lock'd my senses fast, and carri'd me
Into a world of blest felicity,
I know not how: first to a garden, where
The apricock, the cherry, and the pear,
The strawberry and plum, were fairer far
Than that eye-pleasing fruit that caus'd the jar
Betwixt the goddesses, and tempted more
Than fair Atlanta's ball, though gilded o'er.
I gaz'd awhile on these, and presently
A silver stream ran softly gliding by,
Upon whose banks, lilies more white than snow
New fall'n from heaven, with violets mix'd, did grow;
Whose scent so chaf'd the neighbour air, that you
Would surely swear Arabic spices grew
Not far from thence, or that the place had been
With musk prepar'd to entertain Love's Queen.
Whilst I admir'd, the river pass'd away,
And up a grove did spring, green as in May
When April had been moist; upon whose bushes
The pretty robins, nightingales, and thrushes
Warbled their notes so sweetly, that my ears
Did judge at least the music of the spheres.
But here my gentle dream conveyed me
Into the place where I most long'd to see,
My mistress' bed; who, some few blushes past
And smiling frowns, contented was at last
To let me touch her neck; I, not content
With that, slipp'd to her breast, thence lower went,
And then---I awak'd.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net