by Keats · Cluster: Ode · Nature vs Civilization · Pastoral Retreat
Abstract
A pastoral love lyric inviting Georgiana into a faery-haunted bower of roses and shades to hear a tale of love; romantic love, nature and amorous persuasion.
Connections
Topoi: Locus Amoenus, Pastoral Retreat Archetypes: Lover Motifs: Nature, Flowers, Garden Themes & Concepts: Romantic Love Forms & Genres: Lyric Settings: Pastoral Countryside
Testo integrale / Full text
O come Georgiana!’ the rose is full blown,
The riches of Flora are lavishly strown,
The air is all softness, and crystal the streams,
The West is resplendently clothed in beams.
O come! let us haste to the freshening shades,
The quaintly carv’d seats, and the opening glades;
Where the faeries are chanting their evening hymns,
And in the last sunbeam the sylph lightly swims.
And when thou art weary I’ll find thee a bed,
Of mosses and flowers to pillow thy head:
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And there Georgiana I’ll sit at thy feet,
While my story of love I enraptur’d repeat.
So fondly I’ll breathe, and so softly I’ll sigh,
Thou wilt think that some amorous Zephyr is nigh:
Yet no - as I breathe I will press thy fair knee,
And then thou wilt know that the sigh comes from me.
Ah! why dearest girl should we lose all these blisses?
That mortal’s a fool who such happiness misses:
So smile acquiescence, and give me thy hand,
With love looking eyes, and with voice sweetly bland. 20