SONNET
[
32
]
XXXII
.
To
Melancholy
.
Written
on
the
Banks
of
the
Arun
,
October
,
1785.
WHEN
latest
Autumn
spreads
her
evening
veil
And
the
gray
mists
from
these
dim
waves
arise
,
I
love
to
listen
to
the
hollow
sighs
,
Thro'
the
half
leafless
wood
that
breathes
the
gale
.
For
at
such
hours
the
shadowy
phantom
,
pale
,
Oft
seems
to
fleet
before
the
poet's
eyes
;
Strange
sounds
are
heard
,
and
mournful
melodies
,
As
of
night
wand'rers
,
who
their
woes
bewail
!
Here
,
by
his
native
stream
,
at
such
an
hour
,
Pity's
own
Otway
,
I
methinks
could
meet
,
And
hear
his
deep
sighs
swell
the
sadden'd
wind
!
Oh
Melancholy
!
—
such
thy
magic
power
,
That
to
the
soul
these
dreams
are
often
sweet
,
And
soothe
the
pensive
visionary
mind
!