Poet --

 Enchanting spirit! -- at thy votive shrine
 I lowly bend a simple wreath to twine;
 O Come from the ideal world and fling
 Thy airy fingers o'er my rugged string;
 Sweep the dark chords of thought and give to earth
 The thrilling song that tells thy heavenly birth --


 Fancy --

 Happiness when from earth she fled
 I passed on her heavenward flight --
 "Take this crown," the spirit said
 "Of heaven's own golden light --
 To the sons of sorrow the token give,
 And bid them follow my steps and live!" --

 I took the crown from the snowy hand,
 It flashed like a living star;
 I turned this dark earth to a fairy land
 When I hither drive my car;
 But I placed the crown round my tresses bright,
 And man only saw its reflected light --

 Many a lovely dream I've given,
 And many a song divine;
 But never! -- oh never -- that gift of heaven
 Shall mortals temples twine --
 Hope and love in the circlet glow!
 'Tis all too bright for a world of woe --


 Poet --

 Hist -- Beautiful spirit! -- why silent so soon?
 My ear drinks each word of thy magical tune;
 My lyre owns thy touch -- and its tremulous strings
 Vibrate beneath the soft play of thy wings;
 Resume thy sweet lay, and reveal, ere we part
 Thy home lovely spirit -- and say what thou art?" --


 Fancy --

 The gleam of a star thou cans't not see --
 Of an eye 'neath its sleeping lid,
 The sound of a far off melody
 The voice of a stream that's hid;
 Such must I still remain to thee
 A wonder and a mystery! --

 I live in the poet's dream
 I flash on the painter's eye;
 I dwell in the moon's pale beam,
 In the depths of the star lit sky;
 I traverse the earth, the air, the main,
 And bind young hearts in my magic chain --

 I float on the fleecy cloud
 My voice is in ev'ry breeze;
 I speak in the tempest loud,
 In the sigh of the waving trees --
 To the sons of earth -- in a mystic tone,
 I tell of a world more bright than their own! --