Classic Poem

AVON.

WRITTEN DURING THE STRATFORD JUBILEE .

From the clear stream that o'er her grotto flows
The silver-slipper'd A VON slowly rose,
And pensive on her crystal urn reclin'd,
Pour'd forth in notes like these her anxious mind.

" What frantic train is this whose noise invades
" The accustom'd stilness of my tranquil shades,
" Whose swelling clamors float my banks along,
" And drown the sweetness of each rural song,
" Fill all the woods around with festal roar,
" And fright the peaceful halcyons from my shore? —

" And see! — from I TALY 's degenerate clime
" The mottled hero fam'd in Pantomime,
" Leads his exulting crew with impious tread
" To soil the dust that pillows S HAKESPEAR 's head:
" With midnight sounds they break his sacred sleep,
" And near his tomb opprobrious vigils keep.
" Resounding axes give the solar beam
" To scorch the borders of my lucid stream,
" And, while around the weeping Dryads bleed,
" The sons of riot praise the fatal deed: —
" Them it becomes to praise: but 'midst the throng
" What honor'd voice is that which joins the song?
" Canst thou whose powers could give this wonder " ing age
" To see the soul of S HAKESPEAR grace the stage,
" Canst thou misjudging, praise each cruel blow
" That lays the shade by A VON 's current low,
" Canst thou approve those trees untimely doom
" That wave their foliage o'er thy S HAKESPEAR 's " tomb,
" Or view the motley sons of Masquerade
" Insult thy patron's venerable shade?
" But hark! loud riot swells on every side,
" And orgies dire pollute my virgin tide;
" Ah! let my ear the unhallow'd revels fly,
" Nor drink the sounds of midnight ribaldry."
She said, and plunging in the silver wave,
Sought the calm refuge of her silent cave.