O, MY LUVE'S LIKE A RED, RED ROSE O, MY Luve's like a red, red rose Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, While the sands o' life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only Luve! Tho' it were ten thousand mile. ROBERT BURNS. TWO IN THE CAMPAGNA I WONDER do you feel to-day As I have felt, since, hand in hand, In spirit better through the land, For me, I touch'd a thought, I know, Help me to hold it! First it left The yellowing fennel, run to seed There, branching from the brickwork's cleft, Took up the floating weft, Where one small orange cup amass'd Five beetles, blind and green they grope Everywhere on the grassy slope The champaign with its endless fleece Such life there, through such lengths of hours, Such letting Nature have her way How say you? Let us, O my dove, To love or not to love? I would that you were all to me, Nor yours, nor mine, nor slave nor free! Where does the fault lie? what the core Of the wound, since wound must be ? I would I could adopt your will, See with your eyes, and set my heart In life, for good and ill. your part, my part No. I yearn upward, touch you close, I pluck the rose And love it more than tongue can speak Then the good minute goes. 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, Fix'd by no friendly star ? Just when I seem'd about to learn! Where is the thread now? Off again! The old trick! Only I discern Infinite passion, and the pain of finite hearts that yearn. ROBERT BROWNING DORIS I SAT with Doris, the shepherd maiden: Her crook was laden with wreathèd flowers; I sat and woo'd her through sunlight wheeling, And shadows stealing, for hours and hours. And she, my Doris, whose lap encloses Wild summer roses of rare perfume, The while I sued her, kept hush'd and hearken'd My fold unguarded, my flock unfolded, Said I, replying: "If they do miss you, Should be the labor from which you come. "They might remember," she answered meekly, "That lambs are weakly and sheep are wild; But if they love me 't is none so fervent ; I am a servant, and not a child. ”’ Then each hot ember glowed quick within me, "Ah! do but prove me, and none shall bind you Nor fray nor find you, until I die." She blushed and started, and stood awaiting, But I did brave them - I told her plainly So we, twin-hearted, from all the valley That I, her warder, did always bless her, And now in beauty she fills my dwelling With love excelling and undefiled; And love doth guard her, both fast and fervent, No more a servant, nor yet a child. ARTHUR J. MUNBY. SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT SHE was a phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovely apparition, sent To be a moment's ornament; Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair; Her household motions light and free, A countenance in which did meet LONGING WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. COME to me in my dreams, and then For then the night will more than pay Come, as thou cam'st a thousand times, Or, as thou never cam'st in sooth, Come to me in my dreams, and then MATTHEW ARNOLD. JANETTE'S HAIR OH, loosen the snood that you wear, Janette, Let me tangle a hand in your hair my pet; For the world to me had no daintier sight Than your brown hair veiling your shoulder white; my pet. It was brown with a golden gloss, Janette, It was finer than silk of the floss - my pet; 'T was a beautiful mist falling down to your wrist, My arm was the arm of a clown, Janette, my pet; But warmly and softly it loved to caress my pet. Your eyes had a swimming glory, Janette. They were gray with that chasten'd tinge of the sky my pet. Your lips - but I have no words, Janette my pet. Oh, you tangled my life in your hair, Janette, 'T was a silken and golden snare my pet; |