To make believe, that thou art gone? CXLIX. A GLYCINE'S SONG. SUNNY shaft did I behold, From sky to earth it slanted; He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled His eyes of fire, his beak of gold, And thus he sang: 'Adieu! adieu ! Love's dreams prove seldom true. The blossoms they Make no delay; The sparkling dewdrops will not stay. Sweet month of May, We must away; Far, far away! To-day! to-day!' CL. ROBERT SOUTHEY, 1774-1843. THE HOLLY TREE. READER! hast thou ever stood to see The eye that contemplates it well perceives Ordered by an intelligence so wise, As might confound the atheist's sophistries. Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen No grazing cattle through their prickly round But as they grow where nothing is to fear, I love to view these things with curious eyes, And moralize: And in this wisdom of the holly tree Can emblems see Wherewith perchance to make a pleasant rhyme, Thus, though abroad perchance I might appear Harsh and austere, To those who on my leisure would intrude Reserved and rude, Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. And should my youth, as youth is apt I know, Some harshness show, All vain asperities I day by day Would wear away, Till the smooth temper of my age should be Like the high leaves upon the holly tree. And as when all the summer trees are seen The holly leaves a sober hue display Less bright than they, But when the bare and wintry woods we see, What then so cheerful as the holly tree? So serious should my youth appear among The thoughtless throng, So would I seem amid the young and gay More grave than they, That in my age as cheerful I might be As the green winter of the holly tree. CLI. CHARLES LAMB, 1775-1834. HESTER. HEN maidens such as Hester die, WHEN Their place ye may not well supply, Though ye among a thousand try, With vain endeavour. A month or more hath she been dead, Yet cannot I by force be led To think upon the wormy bed, A springy motion in her gait, Of pride and joy no common rate, I know not by what name beside She did inherit. |