To Harriet

O thou bright Sun! beneath the dark blue line

Of western distance that sublime descendest,

And, gleaming lovelier as thy beams decline,

Thy million hues to every vapour lendest,

And, over cobweb lawn and grove and stream

Sheddest the liquid magic of thy light,

Till calm Earth, with the parting splendour bright,

Shows like the vision of a beauteous dream;

What gazer now with astronomic eye

Could coldly count the spots within thy sphere?

Such were thy lover, Harriet, could he fly

The thoughts of all that makes his passion dear,

And, turning senseless from thy warm caress,--

Pick flaws in our close-woven happiness.