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| JOY like a wave o’erflowed my soul, | |
| While looking on its basin round, | |
| That fancy named a sparkling bowl | |
| By hoop of fadeless emerald bound, | |
| From which boon Nature’s holy hand | 5 |
| Baptized the nymphs of mountain land. | |
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| It blushes in the morning’s glow, | |
| And glitters in the sunset ray, | |
| When brooks that run far, far below | |
| Have murmured out farewell to day; | 10 |
| The moonlight on its placid breast, | |
| When dark the valley, loves to rest. | |
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| Wheeling in circles overhead, | |
| The feathered king a war-scream gave; | |
| His form, with pinion wide outspread, | 15 |
| Was traced so clearly on the wave, | |
| That seemingly its glass was stirred | |
| By flappings of the gallant bird. | |
| |
| Not far away were rocky shelves | |
| With the soft moss of ages lined, | 20 |
| And seated there a row of elves | |
| By moonlight would the poet find: | |
| Fairies, from slumber in the shade | |
| Waking with soft-voiced serenade. | |
| |
| The waters slept, by wind uncurled, | 25 |
| Encircled by a zone of green: | |
| The reflex of some purer world | |
| Within their radiant blue was seen,— | |
| I felt, while musing on the shore, | |
| As if strong wings my soul upbore. | 30 |
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| Lake, flashing in the mountain’s crown! | |
| Thought pictures thee some diamond bright,— | |
| That dawn had welcomed,—fallen down | |
| From the starred canopy of night; | |
| Or chrysolite, by thunder rent | 35 |
| From Heaven’s eternal battlement. | |
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