Is there within thy heart a need Speak now decay. - lest at some future day my whole life wither and Lives there within thy nature hid The demon-spirit change, Shedding a passing glory still On all things new and strange? It may not be thy fault alone, but shield my heart against thy own. Couldst thou withdraw thy hand one day And answer to my claim, That Fate, and that to-day's mistake had been to blame? Some soothe their conscience thus; but thou wilt surely warn Not thou and save me now. The words would come too late; Yet I would spare thee all remorse, So, comfort thee, my Fate, Whatever on my heart may fall-remember, I would risk it all! ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER. A WOMAN'S LAST WORD Let's contend no more, Love, Strive nor weep: All be as before, Love, Only sleep! What so wild as words are ? Be a god and hold me With a charm! Be a man and fold me With thine arm! I will speak thy speech, Love, Both demands, Laying flesh and spirit In thy hands. That shall be to-morrow, I must bury sorrow Out of sight: - Must a little weep, Love, (Foolish me!) And so fall asleep, Love, Loved by thee. ROBERT BROWNING. O LAY THY HAND IN MINE, DEAR! O, LAY thy hand in mine, dear! But Time hath brought no sign, dear, 'Tis long, long since our new love But age enricheth true love, Like noble wine. And lay thy cheek to mine, dear, Mine arms around thee twine, dear, On this dear head; But Sorrow's hands in blessing O, lean thy life on mine, dear! Thou wert a winsome vine, dear, On my young tree : And so, till boughs are leafless, And songbirds flown, We'll twine, then lay us, griefless, GERALD MASSEY. Two voices are there; one is of the sea, There is a land, of every land the pride, PART VI LIBERTY AND PATRIOTISM OF OLD SAT FREEDOM ON THE HEIGHTS Then stept she down through town and field To mingle with the human race, And part by part to men reveal'd Grave mother of majestic works, The wisdom of a thousand years That her fair form may stand and shine, Make bright our days and light our dreams, Turning to scorn with lips divine The falsehood of extremes ! ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON. LOVE OF LIBERTY O FOR a lodge in some vast wilderness, Might never reach me more. My ear is pained, |