The Indian Serenade
I.
I arise from dreams of
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining brightI arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my
Hath led me — who knows how? —To thy chamber window,
Sweet!
II.
The wandering airs they
On the dark, the silent stream —The champak odors
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart;
As I must on thine,
Oh, beloved as thou art!
II.
O lift me from the grass!
I die!
I faint!
I fail!
Let thy love in kisses
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast;—Oh! press it to thine own again,
Where it will break at last.
Published, with the title, "Song written for an Indian Air", in "The Liberal", 2, 1822.
Reprinted ("Lines to an Indian Air") by Mrs.
Shelley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.
The poem is included in the Harvard manuscript book, and there is a description by Robert Browning of an autograph copy presenting some variations from the text of 1824.
