On sitting down to read 'King Lear' once again

O golden-tongued Romance, with serene lute!

      Fair plumèd Syren, Queen of far away!

      Leave melodizing on this wintry day,

Shut up thine olden pages, and be mute:

Adieu! for once again the fierce dispute,

      Betwixt damnation and impassion'd clay,

      Must I burn through; once more humbly assay

The bitter sweet of this Shakespearean fruit:

Chief Poet! and ye clouds of Albion,

      Begetters of our deep eternal theme!

When through the old oak forest I am gone,

      Let me not wander in a barren dream,

But when I am consumèd in the Fire,

Give me new Phœnix-wings to fly at my desire.