Records of Romantic Passion [poem by Charles Harpur]

[Editor: This poem by Charles Harpur was published in The Bushrangers; A Play in Five Acts, and Other Poems (1853).]

Records of Romantic Passion.

There’s a rare Soul of Poesy which may be
But concentrated by the chastened dreams
Of constant hearts. Where’er the ministry
Of beautiful Nature hath enhanced the themes
Of some Petrarchian mind whose story gleams
Within the Past like a moon-silvered sea,
Or where grey Interest the spirit free
Of faithful Love hath caged in iron schemes,
Or round it stirr’d such dangers as o’erdrove
Long Ruin’s storm at last — there evermore
The very airs that whisper to the grove,
The echo’s mystery and the streamlet’s lore
Savour of Passion and transfusive pour
Abroad suggestions to heroic Love.

Source:
Charles Harpur, The Bushrangers; A Play in Five Acts, and Other Poems, Sydney: W. R. Piddington, 1853, page 124

Editor’s notes:
Petrarchian = (also spelt “Petrarchan”) of or relating to the works of Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, 1304-1374, Italian poet and scholar); a description given to works which are characteristic of, or imitative of, the style of Petrarch, especially regarding sonnets

poesy = poetry or the art of poetic composition

Old spelling in the original text:
hath (has)
o’erdrove (overdrove)
where’er (wherever)