quotes

• “Shall earth no more inspire thee,

  Thou lonely dreamer now? 

  Since passion may not fire thee 

  Shall Nature cease to bow?” 

  • The lines are ambiguous in terms of who the speaker is addressing:
  • The speaker asks a “lonely dreamer” without “passion” if nature has also lost its power to “fire” them or motivate them
• “Thy mind is ever moving 

  In regions dark to thee; 

  Recall its useless roving— 

  Come back and dwell with me.”

  • The speaker refers to the listener’s dark and restless (“roving”) thoughts
  • The speaker comments on the pointlessness of rambling and “useless” thinking 
  • Here, the speaker asks the “lonely dreamer” to return and “dwell” (stay) with them
• “I know my mountain breezes 

  Enchant and soothe thee still — 

  I know my sunshine pleases 

  Despite thy wayward will.”

  • Here, the reader is alerted that the narrator is “Nature”:
  • The speaker explains how “my” wind can calm and “my sunshine” can bring peace
  • The speaker suggests they know that they “soothe” a “wayward will”, which means nature can calm disturbed thoughts
• “When day with evening blending 

  Sinks from the summer sky, 

  I’ve seen thy spirit bending 

  In fond idolatry.”

  • The speaker describes the dusk, when the day is “blending” with night
  • The speaker adds that this scene alters the listener’s mood: “Thy spirit bending” 
  • The speaker reminds the listener that they have praised or worshipped nature in “fond idolatry” previously
• “I’ve watched thee every hour; 

  I know my mighty sway, 

  I know my magic power 

  To drive thy griefs away.” 

  • The speaker (Nature) tells the listener (the “lonely dreamer”) that they know them very well
  • The speaker refers to their powerful force (“mighty sway”) that can alter moods
• “Few hearts to mortals given 

  On earth so wildly pine; 

  Yet none would ask a heaven 

  More like this earth than thine.”

  • The speaker comments again on the emotional state of the listener:
  • They refer to a heart that “wildly” pines and grieves deeply
  • They suggest it is rare to find someone so emotional
  • However, the speaker suggests the beauty on earth is like “heaven”
  • They advise the listener to appreciate their world
• “Then let my winds caress thee; 

  Thy comrade let me be — 

  Since nought beside can bless thee, 

  Return and dwell with me.”

  • The speaker urges the listener to be comforted by the sensory nature of “my winds”
  • The speaker, Nature, asks for a relationship with the listener, to be their friend (“comrade”)
  • The speaker again refers to the emotional state of the listener:
  • They suggest nothing (“nought”) else but being together can heal (“bless”) them