fimn Df 8int.tr.
L.urr.T ('.nme Winter clothfd all in frieze,
Chntt'rin!{ hi11 teeth for cold that dhl him chilli
Whilst on Ins hoa.ry be:ml his bre."\th did freeze,
And the d11ll drop8 that, frotn bis purpled bill,
As from a limbeck, did a.down di~til:
In his right hand a tippe<l ehffhe h eld,
With which his feehle steps be stayerl still;
Forb~ was mint with cold,an<l weak with eM;
That scarce bis loosed limbs he able was to weld.
8TAlm here by my side, and turn, I prny 1
On the l11ke below thy gentle eyl'1!;
The cloucls hang over it, henvy and grny,
And d1>rk and silent the wnter lies :.
And out of that frozen mist the P.now
In wavering flak.:s begins to ftow;
Flake af\.er flake,
They sink in the dark and sileot iuk~.SP:&NSER.See bow, in a living IIWnrm, they come
From the cham ben beyooti that misty •eil ;
Some hover Awhile in air, and some
.Ru~h prone from the sky like summer hail,
All, droppjng swift.ly ·or settling slow,
Meet, and are still in the depth below:
Flake aftt>r-flake,
Di.toaolved in the dark and silent lake.Here, llelic.'\te snow-st.-uH, out of the cloud
Come 1lonting downW!\rd in airy play,
Like spangles dropp'•l from the ~listening erowJ
Thllt whiten by night the Milky Wny:
There, broader and burlier mnsses fall,
The sullen waters bury t)lem all :
Flake a f\.er Hake
All drowu'd in the dark a.nd silent lakt>.