| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 12501900. |
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| Margaret L. Woods. b. 1856 |
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| 882. Genius Loci |
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| PEACE, Shepherd, peace! What boots it singing on? | |
| Since long ago grace-giving Phoebus died, | |
| And all the train that loved the stream-bright side | |
| Of the poetic mount with him are gone | |
| Beyond the shores of Styx and Acheron, | 5 |
| In unexplorèd realms of night to hide. | |
| The clouds that strew their shadows far and wide | |
| Are all of Heaven that visits Helicon. | |
| Yet here, where never muse or god did haunt, | |
| Still may some nameless power of Nature stray, | 10 |
| Pleased with the reedy stream's continual chant | |
| And purple pomp of these broad fields in May. | |
| The shepherds meet him where he herds the kine, | |
| And careless pass him by whose is the gift divine. | |
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