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. 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 Among the honey-meal: and last, 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 Beating by yours, and drink my fill At your soul's springs, — your part, my part In life, for good and ill. No. I yearn upward, touch you close, Then stand away. I kiss your cheek, Catch your soul's warmth, 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 wreathed 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, And love did win me to swift reply: "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 simple duty fresh grace did lend her That I, her warder, did always bless her, And now in beauty she fills my dwelling And love doth guard her, both fast and fervent, 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 my pet; Он, loosen the snood that you wear, Janette, my pet. It was brown with a golden gloss, Janette, It was finer than silk of the floss my pet; "T was a thing to be braided, and jewell'd, and kiss'd my pet. my pet; My arm was the arm of a clown, Janette, But warmly and softly it loved to caress Your round white neck and your wealth of tress, Your eyes had a swimming glory, Janette. They were gray with that chasten'd tinge of the sky my pet. - my pet, Your lips but I have no words, Janette Oh, you tangled my life in your hair, Janette, my pet; |