We paused beside the pools that lie 



Under the forest bough ; 

 Each seemed as 'twere a little sky 



Gulfed in a world below : 

 A firmament of purple light 



Which in the dark earth lay, 

 More boundless than the depths of night* 



And purer than the day ; 

 In which the lovely forest grew 



As in the upper air 

 More perfect both in shape and hue 



Than any spreading there-" SHELLEY. 



