TENNYSON AS A NATURALIST 257 



for remembrance I find it impossible to pass over 

 these : 



" So dark a forethought roll'd about his brain, 

 As on a dull day in an ocean cave 

 The blind wave feeling round his long sea-hall 

 In silence." 



(Merlin and Vivien?) 



" O sound to rout the brood of cares, 



The sweep of scythe in morning clew, 



The gust that round the garden flew, 



And tumbled half the mellowing pears ! " 



(In Memoriam.} 



" Unwatch'd, the garden bough shall sway, 

 The tender blossom flutter down, 

 Unloved, that beech will gather brown, 

 This maple burn itself away ; 



rt Unloved, the sun-flower, shining fair, 



Ray round with flames her disk of seed, 

 And many a rose-carnation feed 

 With summer spice the humming air." 



(In Memoriam.} 



" By night we linger'd on the lawn, 

 For underfoot the herb was dry ; 

 And genial warmth ; and o'er the sky 

 The silvery haze of summer drawn ; 



" And calm that let the tapers burn 

 Unwavering : not a cricket chirr'd : 

 The brook alone far off was heard, 

 And on the board the fluttering urn : 



" And bats went round in fragrant skies, 

 And wheel'd or lit the filmy shapes 

 That haunt the dark, with ermine capes 

 And woolly breasts and beaded eyes ; 



S 



