Algernon Charles Swinburne (Алджернон Чарльз Суинбёрн)

The Roundel

A roundel is wrought as a ring or a starbright sphere,
With craft of delight and with cunning of sound unsought,
That the heart of the hearer may smile if to pleasure his ear
A roundel is wrought.
Its jewel of music is carven of all or of aught--
Love, laughter, or mourning--remembrance of rapture or fear--
That fancy may fashion to hang in the ear of thought.
As a bird's quick song runs round, and the hearts in us hear
Pause answer to pause, and again the same strain caught,
So moves the device whence, round as a pearl or tear,
A roundel is wrought. 

Algernon Charles Swinburne’s other poems:

  1. Plus Ultra
  2. The Litany of Nations
  3. On the Downs
  4. Before Parting
  5. The Bloody Sun




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