VI. Such life here, through such lengths of hours, VII. How say you? Let us, O my dove, VIII. I would that you were all to me, You that are just so much, no more. Nor yours nor mine, nor slave nor free! Where does the fault lie? What the core O' the wound, since wound must be? IX. I would I could adopt your will, At your soul's springs, your part my part In life, for good and ill. X. No. I yearn upward, touch you close, XI. Already how am I so far Out of that minute? Must I go Still like the thistle-ball, no bar, Onward, whenever light winds blow, Fixed by no friendly star? XII. Just when I seemed about to learn! Where is the thread now? Off again! This is a spray the Bird clung to, Was the poor spray's, which the flying feet hung to,- II. This is a heart the Queen leant on. Thrilled in a minute erratic, Meet for love's regal dalmatic. Was the poor heart's, ere the wanderer went on A SERENADE AT THE VILLA. I. That was I, you heard last night Tent of heaven, a planet small: II. Not a twinkle from the fly, Not a glimmer from the worm; When the crickets stopped their cry, When the owls forbore a term, You heard music; that was I. III. Earth turned in her sleep with pain, Sultrily suspired for proof: In at heaven and out again, Lightning! - where it broke the roof, Bloodlike, some few drops of rain. So wore night; the East was gray, White the broad-faced hemlock-flowers There would be another day; Ere its first of heavy hours Found me, I had passed away. VI. What became of all the hopes, Words and song and lute as well? Say, this struck you "When life gropes Feebly for the path where fell Light last on the evening slopes, VII. "One friend in that path shall be, VIII. Never say as something bodes IX. "When no moon succeeds the sun, Nor can pierce the midnight's tent Any star, the smallest one, While some drops, where lightning rent, Show the final storm begun X. "When the fire-fly hides its spot, When the garden-voices fail In the darkness thick and hot, Shall another voice avail, That shape be where these are not? XI. "Has some plague a longer lease, Proffering its help uncouth? Can't one even die in peace? As one shuts one's eyes on youth, Is that face the last one sees?" XII. Oh how dark your villa was, ONE WAY OF LOVE. I. All June I bound the rose in sheaves. Let them lie. Suppose they die? The chance was they might take her eye. II. How many a month I strove to suit She will not hear my music? So! III. My whole life long I learned to love. She will not give me heaven? "T is well! Lose who may Those who win heaven, blest are they! ANOTHER WAY OF LOVE. I. June was not over When a man I know (But shall not discover, Since ears are dull, And time discloses) Turned him and said with a man's true air, II. Well, dear, in-doors with you! True! serene deadness Tries a man's temper. What's in the blossom June wears on her bosom? Can it clear scores with you? Sweetness and redness, Eadem semper ! Go, let me care for it greatly or slightly! If June mend her bower now, your hand left unsightly By plucking the roses, And after, for pastime, - my June will do rightly. III. If June be refulgent Of wine poured at mass-time, And choose One indulgent To redness and sweetness: Or if, with experience of man and of spider, June use my June-lightning, the strong insect-ridder, And stop the fresh film-work, why, June will consider. |