Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
The Indian Serenade
1 I arise from dreams of thee
2In the first sweet sleep of night,
3When the winds are breathing low,
4And the stars are shining bright:
5I arise from dreams of thee,
6And a spirit in my feet
7Hath led me--who knows how?
8To thy chamber window, Sweet!
9 The wandering airs they faint
10On the dark, the silent stream--
11The Champak odours fail
12Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
13The Nightingale's complaint,
14It dies upon her heart;--
15As I must on thine,
16Oh, belovèd as thou art!
17 Oh lift me from the grass!
18I die! I faint! I fail!
19Let thy love in kisses rain
20On my lips and eyelids pale.
21My cheek is cold and white, alas!
22My heart beats loud and fast;--
23Oh! press it to thine own again,
24Where it will break at last.
Notes
11] fail: some editors emend to "pine" (a change that the rhyme scheme supports).
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: The Liberal, 1 (1822). Facs. edn. Menston: Scolar, 1973. PR 4370 A1 1973 ROBA. AP 4 L413 MICR mfm.
First publication date:
1822
RPO poem editor: J. D. Robins
RP edition: 2RP 2.250.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/24*1:2007/7/11
Composition date:
1819
Rhyme: abcbadcd
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