247
BECAUSE I L OV E YOU
19021115 of iLuhe
SELECTED AND A R RANGED BY
ANNA E . MACK
L ove is too pre ciou s to be name d
Save with a re ve re nce de e p and h igh .
”
L EE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERSIO M ILK STREET
B O ST O N
BY L EE AND SHEPARD
B e cau se I
mnihcrsitgJOHN W ILSON AND SON
, CAMBR IDGE ,
flat 32011 ,
MY DEARE ST FR I END ,
POEMS, EXPRESS ING WHAT IS TRUE ST AND NOBLESTAND BEST IN HUMAN AFFECTION
,AND LEAD ING
TO THE DEARE R LOV E OF GOD,ARE
SELECTED AND ARRANGEDBECAUSE I LOV E YOU .
AN NA MA CK .
THE Editor wi shes to thank most cordially th e
authors who have so kindly perm i t ted the use of
thei r poems , and th e publi shers for permi s sion to use
copyr igh ted poems, Messrs . Charles S cribner’ s
Sons, Rober ts B roth e rs , M acmi llan Co .,Georg e
Got tsbe rg e r Peck ; Houghton , M ifiiin Co ., and
others,— by whose permi ss ion , and by arrangement
with whom , selections have been made from th e fol
lowing authors , whose works they publi sh
G EORGE ARNOLD . E . S . PHELPS-WARD .
ALICE AND PHCE BE CARY . L AURA C . REDDEN .
RALPH WALDO EMERSON . MARGARET ! . PRESTON .
JOHN HAY. JOHN G . SAXE .
OLI V E R WENDELL HOLMES . FRANR DEMPSTER SHERMAN.
W ILL IAM DEAN H OWELLS . E DMUND CLARENCE STEDG EORGE HOUGHTON . MAN .
ELLEN MACKAY HUTCH INSON . STUART STERNE .
L UCY L ARCOM . BAYARD TAYLOR .
OSCAR L AIGHTON . C ELIA THAXTER .
H ENRY WADSWORTH L ONG E D ITH M . THOMAS .
FELLOW . JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTI ER .
JAMES RUSSELL L OWELL . ELIZABETH WH ITT IER .
S . WE IR M ITCHELL . M RS . A. D . T . WH ITNEY .
A . E . M .
R IV ER FOREST , IL L .
L IST OF AUTHORS .
ADD ISON , JOSEPH .
W i th what a g raceful tenderness he lovesLove Is no t to b e reasoned down or los t
ALLEN , EL IZABETH AKERS .Four Words
ANGELO, M ICHAEL.
Sonne t, “ If i t be true that any beauteous th ingARNOLD, EDW IN .
From The Book of LoveA Lover w i th h is Loved One sailed the Sea .
Oh, if thou b e ’st True LoverOn a CyclamenTOO full Of Love my soul i s to find placeNaugh t is the same as if Love had no t beenNot Death is s trong enough to part asunderHe and She
ARNOLD, MATTHEW .
Calais SandsLoversAh
,Love l le t us be true
ARNOLD , GEORGE .
Among th e HeatherA Farewell
ARM STRONG, GEORGE FRANC I S .I loved thee for that dear deep lovingn ess
ix
BAILEY, PH IL I P JAME S .If augh t can make me seekI remember the only wi se th ing I ever d idI t has been such a day as that, thou knowes tBAYLY, THOMAS HAYNE S.Won’t You !BARLOW , GEORGE .
Love on DeckLife ’s GiftsLove ’s Final PowersTogetherBEAUMONT AND FLETCHER .
I did hear you talk far above SingingBEST, SU S IE M .
Here in is LoveBLAKE , W ILL IAM .
Love seeketh not i tself to pl easeBLAKE , JAME S V .
VV e dde d
BO LTON , SARA K .
One FaceBOSTW ICK, HELEN BARRON .
Urvasi
BREWER, DAN IEL CHAUN CEY.
Softly the Even ing ShadowsBR ICKHEAD, WILLIAM HUNTER .
H e was a fri end indeedBROOKE , STOPFORD A .
May and LoveBROWN ING , ELIZA BETH BARRETT.
A Woman ’s Shortcom ingsMy KateThree K i ssesMy Letters
BROWN ING, ROBE RT.
For l ife, wi th all i t yi elds of joy or woeLove is the only good in the worldLove among the RuinsBRUCE, WALLACE .
N0 l ife i s so strong and compl eteBUCHANAN, ROBE RT .
TO Harriet tFrom “ In the GardenBU RN S, ROBERT .
From “ The Cot ter’s Saturday N ightA Red, Red RoseMy ! eanBYRON, GEORGE GORDON NOEL, LORD.
LoveCARY, ALICE .
Love I blessed Love l if we could hang our wallsFrom Life ’s MysteriesLove ’s l igh t is strange to you ! Ah , me !The Unwise Cho iceI hear a Dear, Famil iar ToneO winds ye are too rough , too rough
CARY, PHGIBE .
True LoveThe chords of love must b e s trong as deathL ife may to you bring every good
CARPENTER, HEN RY BERNARD .
He sang out of h is soul what he found thereCAS SELS, WALTER R.
Love took me softly by the HandCLEMMER, MARY .
For they alone have need of sorrow.
Good-by, SweetheartWords for Part ing
COLER IDGE, SAMUEL TAYLOR .
Answer to a Ch ild ’s ! uest ionThi ther where he l ies buried
COOKE , RO SE TERRY .
Pour o u t thy love l ike the rush Of a riverBest
CRA IK , D INAH MAR IA MUL OCH .
I love yo u . Words are smallTh e Boat of my LoverPeace , wi ld-wr ung hands 1 hush , sobbing breathThree Mee t ings
C ROFTS, GEORGE W.
I Love You , DearDE V ERE , AU BREY .
Happy are They who k iss TheeD ICKENS, CHARLES.Song
DORR, JULIA C . R.
Thornl ess RosesDOUGLA S .
Ann i e Lauri e .
EL IOT, GEORGE .
Two LoversI th ink we had the ch ief of all love ’s joys
EMERSON , RALPH WALDO .
Give all to loveFri endsh ipEros
GAN NETT, W. C .
In TwosGARD INER, CELIA E .
B u t oh 1 ’t was hard to have h im go, to know
G ILDER, RICHARD WATSON .
Oh , Love is not a Summer Moodxii
G I LDER, R ICHARD WATSON !con tin u ed ).Th e Smile Of he r I loveNot from the whole w ide world I choose theeA VV Oman
’
s ThoughtA fter-Song
GOETHE .
The Loved On e Ever Near .
GRAY, MAXW ELL.
RondelGREENW ELL, DORA .
HomeHALM .
A ! uestionHAV ERGAL , FRANC I S RIDLEY.
From Th e Message of an ! Eol ian Harp,c annot love too much
HAY, JOHN .
Love ’s PrayerHAYNE , PAUL HAM ILTON .
Love scorns DegreesTwo EpochsHEMAN S, FEL I C IA DOROTHEA.
Happy, happier far than thou0 Love and DeathHEN LEY, WILL IAM ERNEST.
Love NotesHOOD, THOMAS .I Love TheeHOLMES , OLIVER WENDELL.
The Girdle of Friendsh ipWhere we love is homeO lady
,there b e many th ings
HOLLAND, JOS IAH G ILBERT.
A Tribute
HOLLAND, JOS IAH G ILBERT !con tinu ed )From The Mis tress of the ManseE urekaFrom KatrinaHOLLEY, MAR IETTA .
SummerHOLM , SAXE .
I canno t th ink but God must knowHOUGHTON , GEORGE .
Four-Leaf CloverHOWELLS, WILLIAM DEAN .
GoneHOW ITT, MARY .
O L ife l what after-joy hast thouHUGO, V ICTOR .
An ExtravaganzaHUNT, LE IGH .
For there are two heave ns, sweetBetter Thing sHUTCH IN SON , ELLEN MACKAY.
All the Year RoundINGEL ow, JEAN .
Learn that to love is th e one way to knowLoveLoversA weak wh i te g i rlLove’s Thread Of GoldD iv idedI have th e Courage to be Gay
JACKSON , HELEN HUNT .
Love ’s Fulfill ingTwo TruthsForgiven Z
A Woman’s Death-WoundBurn t Sh ips
JEWETT, SOPH IE .
A Friendsh ipJUAN I I ., K ING OF CASTILE .
I never knew i t, Love , ti l l nowKEM BLE, FRANCE S ANN E .
AbsenceKETCHUM , ANN IE CHAM BERS .
I cannot tell the spell that binds th in e imag eK INGSLEY, CHARLE S .
Oh , That we Two were MayingL AIGHTON , OSCAR .
Th e C lover BlossomsLANDON , LETIT IA ELIZABETH .
A ll t ru e deep feel ing purifies the heartFrom The AncestressShe was sen t forth
LAN IER, S IDNEY .
Even ing SongLARCOM , LUCY .
A FriendIn the A i rThe cup of love the hands of two holdThe Li t tle Brown Cab inAnd in that twil ight hush , God drew thei r heartsTh e gate of Heaven i s LoveThere is hope that i s never pu t byLOCKER , FREDER I CK .
A N ice Corresponden tL oNGPEL L ow, HEN RY WADSW ORTH .
From The Span i sh S t uden t ”
So these l ives that had run thus far in separatechannelsFrom The Hanging Of the Cran eSometh ing the heart must have to cherishFrom The Children of the Lord ’s Supper
XV
LONGFELLOW , HEN RY WADSWORTH !con tin u ed ) .
From Evangel ineI do not love thee less for what is done0 friend ! O best of fri ends I Thy absence moreFrom “ M ichael AngeloThe Two Locks of HairFrom Evangel ineLOWELL, JAMES RUS SELL .
LoveWi th my love th is knowledge too was g ivenH er fi t tes t t riumph Is to Show that good .
Th ink not in death my love could ever ceaseLYNCH , ANNE C .
Go forth in life not seek ing LoveLYTTON , EDWARD ROBERT BULWER .
And love What was love , thenO, near Ones , dear OnesMACKAY, CHARLES .A Love ExtravaganzaProtestat ionsGoneMANV ILLE , MAR ION .
Scotch HeatherMAR STON , PH IL I P BOURKE.
What th e Rose sawPart ing WordsMACDONALD, GEORGE .
The Sea-ShellM ILLER, JOA ! U IN .
From “The Sea of FireIn a GondolaI Simply say that she 15 goodM ITCHELL, S . WE IR .
From “The Cup of Youth
xv i
MORR IS, LEW I S .
What shall I do for my LoveMOULTON, LOU I SE CHANDLER .
At EndO ’SHAUGHNE SSY, ARTHUR.
A Love SymphonyPALGRAVE, FRANCI S TURNER.
Love’s Lang uag ePA RKER, BEN ! AM IN S .
There is a g lory in tree and blossomPATMORE , COVENTRY .
From The Angel in the HouseGo ing to ChurchShe was minePE RRY, NORA .
Ty ing he r Bonnet under her Ch inPERRY, CARLOTTA .
Love is EternalPETERSON
,FREDER ICK .
The Sweetest Flower that blowsPHELPS, ELIZABETH STUART.
A Let terPLANCHE, JAME S ROB IN SON .
They PartedPRESTON, MARGARET ! .
We TwoPROCTER, ADELA IDE ANNE .
BecauseA Shadow
REDDEN , LAURA C .
Wh ich is BestRED I , FRANCE SCO.
Love, the Mus ic ian
xvi i
R ILEY, JAMES WH ITCOM B .A t Noon and M idn ightA L ife Le sson
ROGERS, SAMUEL .
MarriageROLL IN S , AL ICE WELL INGTON .
I know myself the Bes t Beloved of allROSSETT I
,CH RI ST INA G.
Sonnet,—Trus t me, I have not earned your dearrebukeSonnet ,—O my heart ’s heart and yo u wh o are to me
ROS SETT I , DANTE GAB R IEL .
There wil l I ask of Chris t the L ordSANGSTER, MARGARET EL IZABETH .
O u r Own
I t is n ’
t the th ing you do, dearSAXE , JOHN GODFREY .
K iss me softlySCOTT, S IR WALTER .
From Lay of the Last M instrelSHAKESPEARE
,WILL IAM .
True LoveSHELLEY, PERCY BYSSHE .
Love ’s Ph ilosophySHERMAN , FRANK DEM PSTER .
On a C lockThe Las t Le t te r
SPOFFORD, HARR IET PRESCOTT .
Measu re for MeasureSTEARNE , STUART .
Song from Piero Da Cast igl ioneSTEDMAN
,EDMUND CLARENCE .
From Al ice of Monmouth ”
Song from a Drama
xvi i i
WASH BURN, WILL IAM T.
A FaceWH ITTIER, JOHN GREEN LEAF.
I ’m sorry that I spel t th e wordBenedic i teThe Two LovesFrom Th e S ingerFrom Snow-BoundFrom To Lydia Maria Ch i ld
WH ITT IER, EL IZA BETH .
The Wedding Ve ilWH ITNEY, MRS . A. D . T.
The V iole tW IL cox, ELLA WHEELER .
Love ’s ComingFriendsh ipLove MuchGod measures souls by the ir capac i ty
WOOLSEY, SARAH CHANN ING .Some Lover ’s Dear Though tLove and Life
XX
L ov e ! ble ssed L ove if we cou ld h ang ou r wa lls with
Th e sple ndors of a th ou sand rosy M ay s ,
S u r e ly th ey wou ld not sh in e so we ll as th ou dost ,
L igh t ing ou r d u sty day s .
With ou t th ee wha t a dim a nd wofu l storyOu r y ea rs wou ld be , oh , exce l le nce s u blim e
S lip of th e l ife e te rna l , br igh tly g rowingIn th e low soil of t im e .
AL ICE CARY
PO EMS O F L O V E
LOVE
RUE Love i s but a humble , low-born th ing,
And hath i ts food served up in earthenware ;I t i s a th ing to wal k wi th hand i n hand ,
Through the every-dayne ss of thi s work-day world,Baring its tende r feet t o every roughness,Yet letting not one heart-beat go astrayFrom Beau ty’s law of plai nness and content ;A S imple
,fireside thi ng, whose quiet smi le
Can warm earth ’s poorest hovel to a home,
Which , when our autumn come th , as i t must,And l ife i n th e ch i l l wi nd sh ivers bare and leafless
,
Shall sti ll be bles t wi th I ndian-summer youthI n bleak November, and , wi th th ankfu l heart,Smile on i ts ample stores of garnered fruit
,
As full of sunsh i ne to ou r aged eyesAs when i t nursed th e blossoms of our springsSuch is true Love
,whi ch steals into th e heart
Wi th feet as Si l ent as the l ightsome dawnThat ki sse s smooth the rough brows of the dark,And hath i ts w ill through blissful g entleness,Not l ike a rocket
,which
,with savag e g lare ,
Whirs suddenly up, th en bursts, and leaves the night
Pai nfu lly quiver ing on th e dazed eyes ;A Love that gi ves and takes, that se eth faults,Not wi th fl aw-seeking eyes li ke needle -po ints
,
But,lovi ng kindly, ever looks them down
Wi th th e o ’e rcom ing faith of meek forg iveness ;A Love that Shall be new and fresh each hour
,
A S i s th e golden myste ry of sunset,Or th e sweet coming of th e eveni ng starAlike
,and yet most u nl ike
,every day
,
And seeming ever best and fai res t now.
JAME S RU SSELL LOWELL
LOVE
ES , Love i ndeed i s l ight from Heaven ,A Spark of that immortal fire
With angels sh ared,by Allah given
,
To lift from earth our low desi re .Devotion wafts th e soul above
,
But Heaven i tself descends in Love .
A feel i ng from th e Godhead caught,
To wean from self each sordid thought !A ray of Him who formed th e whole ;A glory ci rcl i ng round the soul !
LORD BYRON
OR l ife , wi th all i t yi elds of joy or woe,And hope and fear
,
I S j ust our ch ance 0 ’ th e prize of learn ing Love ,How Love migh t be, hath b een , i ndeed, and is .
ROBE RT B ROWN ING.
4
FROM “ THE BOOK OF LOVE
HE Poet leads u s— as I th inkTo th i s ch ie f wisdom ! that Love i s not Love
Except i t tear forth S elf-l ove from the breast,And so absorb th e Love r i n that frameOf imag ed fa i rne ss, where h e finds soul ’s lampSo draw
,and daze
,and tang le h im with beams
!Ever so darkly radi ating from God) ,Beams all for him albe it du l l and dimThat h e shal l qu i te forget what e l se was cl ear,Weal th , comfort, peace , pleasure nay
,l ife i tse lf
To l ive and die i n ligh t of those bright eye s,I n reach of those sol e arm s
,i n bli ssful range
Of musi c echoing from th at one Sweet mouth .
EDW I N ARNOLD
LOVE ’S COM ING
HE had looked for h is comi ng as warriors come,With th e clash of arms and th e bugle ’s cal l ;
But h e came instead wi th a stealthy treadWhi ch sh e d id not hear at all .
She had thought how hi s armor would blaze i n th e sun,AS h e rode l ike a Pri nce to cl aim h is bri de ;I n the sweet, dim l ight of the fall ing night
She found h im at h er S ide .
She had dreamed how the gaze of h is s trange,bold eye
Would wake h er h eart to a sudden glow ;Sh e found i n h i s face the fami l i ar grac eOf a fri end sh e used to know .
She had dreamed how h i s coming would stir her sou l ,As th e ocean i s st irred by th e wi ld storm ’s strife ;He brought h er the balm of a heavenly calm
,
And a peace wh i ch crowned her l i fe .
ELLA WHEELE R WIL cox
TRUE LOVE
ET me not to th e marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments . Love is not love
Which alters when i t al terati on finds,Or bends wi th th e remover to remove0 , no ! i t i s an ever-fixe d mark,That looks on tempest s and i s never Shaken ;I t i s th e star to every wandering bark,Whose worth ’s unknown although h i s height be taken .
Love ’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and ch eeks
With in h is bending S i ckle’s compass come ;Love alters not w i th h i s bri ef hours and weeks
,
But bears i t out eve n to th e edge of doom .
I f th i s be error and upon me proved,I neve r wri t
,nor no man ever loved .
WILLIAM SH AKE SPEA RE
FROM “ THE COTTER ’S SATURDAYNIGHT
BUT , hark ! a rap comes gently to th e door,Jenny, wha kens th e meani ng 0
’ th e same,
Tells how a n e ibor lad cam o ’er the moor,
To do some errands and convoy her h ame .The wi ly mother sees th e consci ous flameSparkle i n Jenny’s e ’e , and flush her cheek ;Wi’ he art-struck anxi ous care i nqui res h i s name
,
While Jenny hafll ins i s afrai d to Speak ;Weel pleased th e moth er h ears it ’s nae wi ld
,worth
less rake .
Wi’ kindly welcome, Jenny brings h im benA strapp in
’ youth ; h e takes th e moth er’s eye ;
Bli the Jenny s ees th e vi s i t ’s no i l l ta’en ;The father cracks of horses , pleughs, and kye .The youngster ’s artless h eart o ’e rflows wi’ joy,But blate and lath e fu ’
,scarce can weel beh ave ;
Th e mother , wi’ a woman ’s wi les, can spy
What makes the youth sae bashin ’ and sae graveWeel ple ased to th i nk her bairn ’
s re spected l ike th el ave .
0 happy love —where love l ike th i s is found !0 heart-fe l t raptures bl i ss beyond compare !
I ’ve paced much thi s weary, mortal round,And sage experi ence bids me th i s declare
8
I f Heaven a draugh t of he aven ly p le as ure spare ,One cordi al i n th i s melan choly V ale
’
T is when a you thful,loving , mod es t pair
I n other ’s arms breathe out th e tende r tale,
Beneath the mi lk-wh ite thorn that scents the even inggale .
ROBE RT BU RN S
TRUE LOVE
TH INK true love is never bl i nd,But rath er bri ngs an added l ight,
An inner v i s ion qu ick to findThe beauti e s b id from common S ight .
No sou l can ever clear ly s e eAnother ’s h ighest, noblest partS ave th rough th e sweet ph i losophyAnd lov ing wi sdom of the heart .
Your -unano inted eyes shal l fal lOn h im who fi l ls my world w i th l igh t ;
You do not se e my fri end a t all ,You se e wha t h ides h im from your s ight .
I se e the feet that fai n would c l imb ;You but th e steps that t urn as tray ;I se e th e sou l, th e unharmed , subl ime ;Yo u , but the garment and the clay.
q
You se e a mortal,weak , m isled ,
Dwarfed ever by the earth ly clod ;I se e how manhood , perfected ,May reach the stature of a god .
Blinded I stood , as now you stand ,T i l l on mi ne eyes , wi th touches sweet,Love, th e del iverer, laid h i s hand,And lo ! I worsh ip at h is feet !
PH !E BE CARY
A LOVER W I TH HIS LOVED ONE SAI LEDTHE SEA
LOVER , Wi th h is loved One sa i led the sea ,Voyaging home i n tender company ;
There blew a w ind of Death upon the waters ,There broke a b i llow of calamity !
I t swept th em from th e deck to dreadful breastOf the black ocean . To that pair d istressedThe mar iners fl ung forth a plank of rescue ;I t reached them drowning on th e tossing cre st .
Too S le nder ’t was to help i f both should hold ;
They Saw him round the plank her weak arms fold .
Gir Dast-i-yar-i-man he ut tered softly ;Clasp ! hands ! dearer than Life to me ! The cold
1 0
B i tter salt swallowed h im . But those who broughtH i s beau teous Ma id , saved by that sweet deed
wrough t,Spake say ing
,Never l ived there truer Lover,
Maju iim by such a marvel had been taugh t
EDW IN ARNOLD
HERE IN I S LOVE
ERE IN is love ! to take th is strange sweet th ingTha t we call l ife
,and for lov
'
e ’s sake to fl ingI t to that outer darkne s s men deem deathThat love may have a longer, sweeter breath ;To face w i th unaffrigh ted hear t th e g loom,
The terror and the agony Of doom .
Here in is love ! to l i ft another ’s cross,To g i ve away the gold and keep th e dross ,To trample into dust th e worm of self
,
To crowd its clam’
rings on the soul’s back shelf ;
Nor let i t ever dare upra i se its head,Deny its every call ti ll i t l ie s dead .
Herei n is love ! to s tr ip th e Shoulders bareI f need be
,that a traile r one may wear
A mantle to protect i t from the storm ,
To bear th e frost-king’s breath so one be warm ;
To crush the tears i t would be swee t to shed ,And sm i l e so o thers may have joy ins tead .
I I
Here i n i s love to dai ly SacrificeThe hope tha t to th e bosom closest l ies
,
To mutely bear reproach and suffer wrong,Nor l i ft th e vo ice to Show where both belong ,
Nay,now , nor tel l i t e
’en to God above,
Here in is love, indeed , here i n is love .
SU S IE M . BE ST
OVE seeketh not i tse lf to please,
Nor for i tself h ath any care ,But for another gives i ts ease
,
And bu i lds a heaven i n hell ’s despai r.
WILLIAM BLAKE
A ! UEST ION
Y heart,I wi ll put th ee a quest ion,
S ay,what is love , I entreat !
Two souls wi th one though t between them ,
Two hearts with a s i ngle beat .
And say whence love comes h ither !
Here h e i s,we know,
th at i s all.When he goes te ll me how and wh i ther !I f he goes
,
’t was not love at all .
And what love loves most pu rely !The love th at h as no self qu est .And where is the deepes t lovingWhere love i s si lentest .
I 2
And wh en i s love at i ts r iche st !
Wh en most i t h as given away .
And what i s the tongue love useth !The love that i t cannot say .
H . I . D . RYDER
From the Ge rman of Ha lm
A WOMAN ’S SHORTCOMINGS
HE has laugh ed as softly as i f she sighed !
She has coun ted s ix and over.
Of a purse well fi l led , and a heart well tr i ed,Oh , each a worthy lover !
They “ give her ti me ; for her soul must Sl i pWhere th e world h as se t th e g roov ing ;She wi l l l i e to none wi th h e r fa i r red lip,But lov e seeks truer lovi ng .
She trembles her fan in a sweetness dumb,
As her thoughts were beyond recall ingWi th a g lance for one and a glance for som e ,From her eyel ids r i sing and fall i ng ,Speaks common words with a blu sh ful ai r ;Hears bold words
,unreprov i ng !
But h er S i l ence says,what Sh e never wi ll swear,
And love seeks better loving .
GO,lady ! lean to th e nigh tg u it ar ,And drop a smil e to the bri nger ;Then smile as sweetly, when he i s far,At the voi ce of an in door Si nger ;
I 3
Bask tender ly beneath t ender eyes ;G lance l ightly
,on th ei r removing,
And jo i n new vows to old perjuri es,
But dare not call i t lov ing !
Unless you can th ink , when th e song i s done,NO other i s soft i n the rhythm ;Unless you can feel
,when l eft by One
That al l men el se go wi th h im ;Unles s you can know when unprai sed by hi s breathThat your beauty i tself wants proving ;Unless you can swe ar For l i fe
,for death
Oh , fear to call i t lov ing !
Unles s you can muse in a crowd all day ,On th e absent face that fixed you ;Unless you can love
,as the angels may
,
With the breadth of heaven betwixt you ;Unle ss you can dream that h is faith i s fast
,
Though behooving and u nb e hooving ;Unless you can die when th e dream i s past,Oh , never call i t lovi ng .
ELIZ ABETH B AR RETT B ROWNING
AND love !What was love, the n ! not calm, not se cure ,
scarcely kind,But i n one all i ntensest emoti ons combinedLife and death ! pain and rapture .
EDWA RD ROBE RT BU LWE R—LYTTON! OWEN ME RED ITH)
I4
Hallows hi s d ream s at n ight .
A l i ttle whi le and the scenesOf th e play of l i fe are closed ;Come let u s re st an hour,And bythe pleasant streams ,Under th e fresh , g reen trees,Let u s walk hand i n h and
,
And th ink of th e days that were .
EDMUND CLA RENCE STEDMAN
No life is so strong and comple te ,B u t it y ea rns for th e sm ile of a fr iend .
WALLACE BRUCE
H e was afr ie nd inde ed ,With a ll afr ie nd ’
s best v ir t u e s sh in ing br zgh t,I t was no broke n re ed
You leaned on, wh en y ou tr u sted to h is m ig h t .
WILLIAM HUNTER BRICKHEAD
A FR I END
LI FE offe rs no joy l ike a friend ;Fulfilment and prophecy blend
I n the throb of a heart wi th i ts own ,A heart where we know and are known.
Yet more than thy fri end unto thee,I s th e fri endsh ip hereafter to be,When the fl ower Of thy l ife Shall unfoldOut of h i ndering, and darkne ss, and cold.
Love mocks thee, whos e mounting desi reDoth not to the Perfect aspi re ;Nor 10vest thou th e soul thou wouldst wi nTo shut wi th th i ne empt in ess i n .
A fri end ! Deep i s call ing to deep !A fri e nd ! th e heart wakes from its sleepTo behold th e world l i t by one face ;W i th one h eavenward step to keep pace .
0 heart wherei n al l hearts are known,
Whose i nfinite throb sti rs our own !0 F r i end beyond fri ends ! what are weWho ask so much less
,yet h ave Thee !
LUCY LA RCOM
I 9
WE LOVE BUT FEW
OH, yes , we mean al l k ind words th at we sayTo old friends and to new ;
Yet doth th i s truth grow clearer day by dayWe love but few .
We love we love ! What easy words to sayAnd swee t to h ear
,
When sunri se Splendor br igh tens all th e way,And
,far and near
,
Are breath Of flowers and carol li ng of birds,And bel ls that chime .
Our hearts are l ight ! we do not weigh ou r wordsAt morni ng time
But when th e mati n musi c al l i s hush edAnd l ife ’s great load
Doth weigh us down , and th i ck wi th dustDoth grow th e road,
Then do we say l ess often that we love .The words have grown !
With plead ing eyes we look to Christ aboveAnd clasp our own .
Thei r l i ves are bound to ours by mighty bandsNo mortal s trai t,
Nor Death himself, wi th h is prevai l ing hands ,Can separate .
z o
Th e world i s w ide“
,and many fr iends are dear
,
And fr iendships true ;Yet do th ese words read pla iner year by year
We love but few .
THE GIRDLE OF FR I ENDSH IP
HE gathered at her slender wa i s tTh e beauteous robe sh e wore ;
I ts folds a golden belt embraced ;One rose-hued gem i t bore .
The g irdle shrank ; i ts lessen i ng roundStil l kept the shi n ing gem
,
But now her flowi ng locks i t bound,A lustrous di adem .
And narrower sti ll the c irc let grew .
Behold ! a g l i tteri ng band ,I ts roseate diamond se t anew
,
Her neck ’s wh i te column spanned .
Suns ri se and set ; th e strain ing claspTh e shortened l i nks res i s t,Yet flashes i n a bracelet ’s g raspThe di amond on h er wri st .
At length , th e round of changes pastTh e th i ev ing years could bring ,
The j ewel, g l itter i ng to the las t,
Sti ll sparkles i n a ri ng .
2 I
So link by link our fr i endsh ips part,
SO loosen , bre ak , and fal l,A narrowing zone ; the lov ing h eartLive s chang e l ess th rough them al l .
OLIVE R WE NDE LL HOLME S
FR I END SH I P
DEAR fri end ,
'
I pray th ee, if thou wouldstprovi ng
Thy strong regard for me ,Make me no vows . Lip-servi ce i s not loving ;Let thy fai th speak for the e .
Swear not to me th at noth ing can divide us,So l ittle such oaths mean ,But when di s t rust and envy creep bes i de us,Let them not come between .
Say not to me th e depths of thy devotionth e de eper than th e se a ;But watch
,lest doubt or some unki nd emotion
Embi tter them for me .
Vow not to love me ever and forever,Words are such idle th i ngs,
But when we d iffer in Opi nions, neverHurt m e by little sti ngs.
2 2
Oh , shut th e wor ld out from th e heart you ch eer !Though small the c i rcle of your smi les may be
,
The world i s d istan t, and your smiles are near ;Thi s makes you more than all th e world to me.
EDWA RD ROBE RT BULWE R—LYT TON!OWEN ME RED ITH)
ATR IBUTE
NOT many fri ends my life has made ;Few h ave I loved , and few are they
Who i n my h and th ei r hearts have laid ;And these were women . I am gray,But never have I been betrayed .
These words —th i s tribu te for th eOf tru th to God and woman~kind l
These th at my h eart may cease toWith love and grati tude confined,And burning from my l ips to break !
These to that S i sterhood of graceThat numbers i n its sacred li stMy mother ri se n to h er place ;My wife
,but yester-morn ing kissed
And folded i n Love’s l ast embrace !
24
This tr ibu te of a love profoundAs ever moved the h eart of man
,
To those to whom my l ife i s bound,
To her i n whom my l i fe began ;And her whose love my l i fe hath crown ed .
Immortal Love ! thou sti ll hast wi ng sTo h i t me to those radian t fi elds ,Where musi c waits with trembli ng stri ngsAnd verse her happy numbers yi elds
And all tir e soul wi thi n me S ings .
So from th e lovely Pagan dreamI call no more th e Tuneful N ine ;For Woman i s my Muse Supreme ,And sh e , with fire and fl ight div i ne,Shal l l igh t and lead me to my th eme .
JOS I AH G ILBE RT HOLLAND
MY KATE
HE was not as pre tty as women I know,
And yet all your best made of sunshi ne and snowDrop to shade, melt to nought i n th e long- trodden
ways,
While sh e ’s st il l remembered on warm and colddays
My Kate .
II .
Her air had a meaning,her movements a g race ;
You turned from th e fai rest to g aze on her face'
And when you had once seen h er forehead and month ,You saw as d i stinctly h er soul and her truth
,
My Kate.
III .
Such a blue i nne r l ight from her eyel ids outbroke,You looked at her S i l ence and fanci ed sh e spoke ;When She did
, so pecul iar yet soft was th e tone ,Though the loudest Spoke also, you heard her alone,
My Kate .
IV .
I doubt if sh e s aid to you much that could actAs a though t or suggestion , sh e did not attractI n the sense of th e bri ll i ant or wi se ; I infer’T was h er th i nki ng of others made you th ink
her,My Kate .
V .
She never found faul t wi th you,never impl i ed
Your wrong by her r igh t ; and yet men at her sideG rew nobler
, g i rls purer, as th rough the whol e townThe ch i ldren were gladder who pu l led at her gown,
My Kate .
V I.
None knelt at her fee t confessed lovers i n thrallThey knelt more to God than th ey used, th at was
all2 6
I f you prai sed her as charming, some asked what youmeant,
But the Charm of her presence was fe lt when Shewent
My Kate .
V II .
The weak and th e gentle, th e ribald and rude ,Sh e took as sh e found them , and did th em al l good ;I t always was so wi th h en—se e what you h aveShe has made th e grass g reener even here,
her g rave ,My Kate .
V I I I .My dear one when thou wast al i ve with the rest,I h eld thee the sweete s t and loved thee the best ;And now thou art dead , shall I not take thy part,As thy smiles used to do for thyself
,my sweet Heart,My Kate .
ELIZ ABETH BA R RETT B ROWN ING
2 7
P ou r ou t thy lo7/e lih e th e r u sh of a r ive r
Was t ing its wa te rs for e v e r a nd e v e r ,
Th roug h th e bu rn t sa nds th a t r ewa rd not th e g it/e r
S ile n t or songfu l, th ou n e a r est th e sea .
S ca t te r thy life a s th e su mm e r sh owe r ’s pou r ingWh a t if no bird th roug h th e pea r l -r a in is soa r ing !
Wh a t if no blossom looks upwa rd ador ing !
L ooh to th e life tha t was lav ish edf or th e e
ROSE TERRY COOKE
Who knows o ur yearni ngs and our fearfulnessChose g raci ously to bid us do the th ingThat make s our earthly happ iness
,and se t
A limit that we need not fear to pass,Because we cannot . Oh
,the breadth and length
And depth and height of love th at passeth knowledg e !Yet Jesus said , As I h ave loved you .
”
O Beatri ce,I long to fee l the sunsh ine
That th is Shou ld bri ng ; but th e re are other wordsWhich fal l i n ch i ll eclipse .
’T i s writte n
,Keep
Yours elves from idols . ’ How Shal l I obey ! ”
Dear, not by lov ing less , but lov ing more .I t i s not that we love our prec ious onesToo m uch , but God too l i ttle . AS the lampA m ine r bears upon h i s shadowed brow
,
I s only dazzl i ng i n th e g rimy dark ,And has no g lare agai nst the summer Sky,So, se t th e t iny torch of our best loveI n the g reat sunsh in e of th e Love of GodAnd, though ful l-fed and fanned , i t casts no shadeAnd dazzles not, O
’
e rflowe d wi th m ighti er l igh t !”
FRANCES RIDLEY HAV ERGAL
LEARN that to love i s th e one way to knowOr God or man ! i t i s not love rece ived
That m ake th man to know the i nner l ifeOf them that love h im ; h is own love bestowedShall do it .
JEAN INGELOW
3 2
LOVE MUCH
OVE much . Earth has enough of bitter i n it ;Cast sweets i nto i t s cup when e ’er you can .
No heart so hard but love at last may wi n i t .
Love i s the g rand p r imeval cau se of man ;All hate i s fore ign to the first great p lan .
Love much . Your heart wi ll be led ou t to S laugh terOn altars bui lt of envy and de c e it .
Love on,love on .
’T i s bread upon th e water ;
I t Shal l be cast i n loaves ye t at your feet,Unleavened manna
,most divi nely sweet .
Love much . Your fai th wi ll be dethroned and Shaken ,Your trus t betrayed by many a fai r, fal s e lure .Remount your faith
,and let new tru sts awaken .
Though clouds obscure th em , ye t th e stars are pureLove i s a vi tal force , and m ust endure .
Love much . M en ’s souls contract wi th cold sus
p ic ion ;
Shine on th em with warm love , and th ey expand .
’
T i s love , not creeds, that from a low conditionLeads mankind up to h e igh ts su preme and g rand .
Oh,that th e worl d woul d se e and understand !
Love much . There i s no waste in freely g iv i ng ;More ble ssed i t i s , even , th an to rece ive .
He who loves much,alone finds l ive worth l i v i ng ;
Love on through doubt and darkness, and bel ieveThere i s no th i ng whi ch love may not ach i eve .
ELLA WHEELE R WIL cox
3 3
SONNET
Or pu o i la q u an titate,Comprende r de l ’amor ch e a t e m i scalda. DANTE .
Non vo’ch e da tal nodo amor mi sciogl ia . PETRARCA .
TRUST me , I have not earned your dear rebukeI love, as you would h ave me, God the most ;
Would love not you , bu t Him , must one be lost,Nor wi th Lot ’s wife cast back a faith less look,Unready to forego what I forsook .
This say I , having counted up th e cost ;This, though I be the feeblest of God
’s host ;The sorriest Sheep Chri st shepherds w i th H i s crook .
Yet wh i l e I love my God th e mos t,I deem
That I can never love you overmuch ;I love Him more, so let me love you too .
Yea , as I apprehend i t, love i s suchI cannot love you i f I love not Him
,
I cannot love H im i f I love not you
CH R ISTINA G . ROSSETTI
GO FORTH IN LIFE NOT SEEK I NG LOVE
0 forth i n l ife, 0 fri end , not seeking love ;A mendicant that w i th implori ng eye
And outstre tch ed hand asks of the passers~byThe alms h i s strong necess i ti es may move .
3 4
Fo r such poor love,to pity near all i ed,
Thy g enerous sp i ri t may not stoop and wa i t,A supplian t
,whose prayer may be deni ed,
L ike a Spurned beggar’s at a palace g ate ;
But thy h eart ’s affluence,lavish , uncontrolled,
The Iarg ess of thy love , give full and free ,As monarchs in th e i r p rog ress scatter goldAnd be thy heart l ike th e exhaustless s e a ,That mus t i ts w eal th of cloud and dew bestow,Though tributary streams or ebb or flow.
ANNE C . LYNCH
LOVE ’S FULF I LL ING
O H, Love i s weak
Wh ich counts th e answers and th e gai n s,V‘u
’
e igh s all th e los ses and the pains ,And eagerly each fond word dra i ns,
A joy to seek .
When Love i s s trong,I t n ever ta rri es to take heed ,Or know i f i ts re turn exceedI ts g ift ; i n i ts sweet h aste no greed,
No str ifes belong.
I t hardly asksI f i t be loved at al l ; to takeSo barren seems
,when i t can make
Such bl is s for the beloved sake,Oh . bi tter tasks !
3 5
Its ecstasyCould find hard d eath so beauteous ,I t sees through tears h ow Ch ri s t l oved u s,
And speaks,i n sayi ng, I love thus,
”
No blasphemy.
So much we m i s sI f Love i s weak ; SO much we gai nI f Love i s strong ! God th i nks no pa in
TOO Sharp or las ting to o rda i nTO teach u s th i s .
HELEN HUNT JACKSON
WHAT SHALL I DO FOR MY LOVE !
HAT shal l I do for my love,
Who is so tenderAnd dear and true
,
Lovi ng and true and tender,
My streng th and my defenderWhat shall I do !
I wi l l cleave unto my love,
Who am too lowlyFor h im to take .With a self- surrender holyI wi l l cl eave unto h im solely
,
I wi l l g ive my be ing whollyFor hi s dear sake .
LEW IS MOR R IS3 6
OH , I F THOU BE ’ST TRUE LOVER
H , i f thou be’st true lover, wash not hand
From that dear stai n of Love ! from worldlybrand
Of wealth and self- l ove wash it ! At the lastThose win who, spi te of Fortune
’s tempests,s tand
,
G lad to wreck all for Love . I say to theeI , S adi— launch not on that boundle s s S ea !But i f thou puttest forth
,hoi st sai l, qu i t anchor,
To storm and wave trust thyself h ardi ly !
EDW I N ARNOLD
FROM “ THE CASTLE IN THE AIR
LIVE for Love , for Lo ve alone , and whoDare ch ide me for i t ! Who dare ca l l i t folly !
I t is a holy thi ng, if augh t i s holy,And true
,i ndeed , i f Truth h erself i s true
Earth yearns for earth ,— i ts sensuous l ife i s dear ;Mort al s should love morta l i ty Wh i le h ere ,And sei ze th e g lowing hours before th ey fly ;And eyes Shou ld answer eyes, and l ips shoul d meet,And h eart s unlocked to k indred hearts Shou ld bea t ,Til l all th at l ive on e arth in love should l i ve and die .
RICHA RD HENRY STODDA RD2 7
THE SEA- SHELL
I STEN,darl i ng, and tel l me
What the murmurer says to thee,
Murmuri ng ’twixt a song and a moan,Changing neither tune nor tone .”
Ye s , I hear i t,— far and fai nt,Like th in-drawn prayer of drowsy sai n t ;Like th e falli ng of sleep on a weary brai n ,When the fevered heart i s quie t aga i n .
”
By smiling l ips and fixed eye,
You are hearing more than song or sigh ;The wrinkled thi ng has curi ous waysI want to know what words i t says .
”
I hear a wind on a boatle ss mai nS igh like th e l ast Of a vani sh ing painOn the dreaming waters dreams the moon
,
But I hear no words i n the murmured tune .
I f i t does not say that I love thee we ll ,’T i s a sense less
,i ll-curved
,worn-Ou t Shell ;
If i t i s not of love , why sigh or S ing !’
T i s a common,mechani cal
,use less th ing .
3 8
Am I not th e noble r th roug h thy low fi’
Or th r e e le ss u nwor thy
ALFRED TENNYSON
If a u g h t ca n m a h e m e seek
Oth e r to be th an tha t lost sou l , Ifea r m e ,
I t is th a t thou lou ’st me ; H e a r/en we r e not H e art en
With ou t th e e .
PH ILIP JAMES BA ILEY
SOFTLY THE EVEN ING SHADOWSOFTLY th e evening shadowsKiss th e tra i l ing robes of day ;
And cluster ing round the rosesAt my fee t, th ey seem to say,As the meadows lose the i r bei ng ,And th e leng th ened shadows waneHave you done your every dutyPour l ’amour de Madelein e !
Are you nobler,stronger, better,
Th an you were when early dawnBlazoned al l th e day wi th SplendorAt the advent of the mom !
Have you sought with manly courageSome far di stant heigh t to gai n !
Are your aspirat ions h igherPour l ’amour de Madelei ne !
DANIE L CHAUNCEY B REWER
SOME LOVER ’S DEAR THOUGHT
IOUGHT to be kinder a lways
,
For th e l ight of hi s ki ndly eyes ;I ought to be wiser always,Becaus e h e i s SO ju st and wi se ;
And gentler i n all my bear ing,And braver i n all my daring ,For th e patience that in h im l i es .
43
I must be as true as the Heaven,
While he is as true as the day,Nor balance th e gi ft w i th the given
,
For he g iveth to me alway .
And I must be firm and steady,
For my Love, he is th at al ready,And I follow h im as I may.
0 dear l ittl e golden fetter,You bind me to difficult th ingsBut my soul
,whi le i t s trives, g rows better,
And I feel the st irri ng of wing sAs I stumble
,doubting and dreading,
Up the path of h is stronger treading,I ntent on h i s beckoni ngs .
S A RAH WOOLSEY! SU SAN COOLIDGE)
A FACE
IWANDERED through the n ight alone ;A face from out th e darkness shone,
A garnered flame of beauty g iven
TO guide a bli nded soul to H eaven .
0 lovely face , wi th ray divine ,Forever on my pathway shi ne ;Where ’er my wayward footsteps roam ,
Be thou my star , my faith , my home !
WILLI AM T . WA SH BU RN44
FROM “ THE M I STRES S O F THE MANSEI S love enwrapped her as a robe ,Which seemed by i ts supernal charm
To Sh ie ld from every poi soned probeOf earthly pain and earth ly harmTh is on e choi ce creature of the globe .
Th e love h e bore her l i ft ed h imI nto a brigh t, sweet atmosphere
That fi l led wi th beauty to th e brimThe world beneath h im , far and near,And stai ned the clouds that draped i ts rim .
JOS I A H G ILBE RT HOLLAND
TO HARR I ETT
ERE at the halfway House of Li fe I l inger,
Worn with the way, a weary-hearted S i nger,Rest ing a l i ttl e Space
And 10 the good God sends me , as a tokenOf peace and ble ssing ! else my heart were broken) ,
The sunbeam of thy face .
My fear fall s from me l i ke a g arment ; slowlyNew strength returns upon me, calm and holy ;
I kneel,and I atone
Thy hand i s clasped in mine we lean togetherHenceforward
,through th e sad or sh ini ng weather,I shall not walk alone .
ROBE RT BUCHANAN45
FROM “ THE ANGEL'
I N THE HOUSE ”
HEN to my roomI went and closed and lock ’
d th e door,And cast mysel f down on my bed ;And there , wi th many a bli ssful tear,I vow’
d to love , and pray’
d to wedThe maiden who had grown so dear ;
Th ank’d God who had se t h er in my path ,
And promi sed as I hoped to win,I n ever would Sully my fai thBy th e least selfishness or S i n ;Whatever in h er s ight I
’d seem,
I ’d really be I ’
d never blendWith my de ligh t i n he r a dream
’T would ch ang e h er ch eek to comprehend ;
And , i f sh e wished i t, I’d prefer
Anoth er ’s to my own success ;And always seek th e best for herWith u noflficiou s tenderness .
R i s ing,I breathed a brighter cl ime
,
And found myself al l self above,And , wi th a chari ty sublime ,Contemned not those who did not love ;And I could not but feel that thenI shone with someth i ng of her grace
,
And went forth to my fellow-menMy commendation i n my face .
COVENTRY PATMORE46
HAPPY ARE THEY WHO K I S S THEE
APPY are they who kiss th ee, morn and even ,Parti ng the hai r upon thy forehead whi te ;
For them the sky is bluer and more bright,And purer their th anksg i ving s ri s e to H eaven .
Happy are they to whom thy songs are given ;Happy are they on whom thy hands al ight ;And happie st they for whom thy prayers at nightI n tender p i ty so oft have striven .
Away with vai n reg rets and selfish sigh sEven I , dear friend, am lonely, not unble st ;Permitted sometimes on that form to g aze,Or feel th e l ight of those consol i ng eyes ;I f but a moment on my cheek i t stays ,I know that gentle beam from all the rest !
AU B REY DE VE RE
LOVE THE MUS I C IAN
OVE i s the minstrel ; for i n God’s own s igh t,
The master of al l melody he stands ,And holds a golden rebeck i n h i s hands ,And leads th e chorus of the sa i nts i n l igh t ;But ever and anon those ch ambers brightDetai n h im not
,for down to th e se low lands
He fl ie s,and Spreads h is musical commands,
And teaches men some fresh, divine del igh t .
48
For with hi s how h e strikes a single chordAcross a soul
,and wake s i n i t des i re
To grow more pu re and love ly, and aspi reTo that e thereal country wh ere, outpouredFrom myri ad stars that stand before th e Lo rd ,Love ’s harmonie s are l ike a flame of fire .
EDMUND W . GOSSEI ta lia n of Fr a ncesco Rodi
A FR I END SH I P
SMALL fel lowsh ip of dai ly commonpl aceWe hold tog ether, dear, constra i ned to go
Diverg i ng ways. Yet day by day I knowMy l ife i s sweeter for thy life ’s swee t grace ;And if we meet but for a moment ’s space
,
Thy touch , thy wOrd, se ts al l th e world ag low .
Fa i th soars serener,haunting doubts sh ri nk low
Abashed before the sunsh ine of thy face .Nor press of crowd , nor waste of d istance servesTo part us . Every hush of even i ng bring sSome h int of thee , true-hearted fr iend of mine ;And as th e farther planet thri l ls and swervesWhen toward i t through th e darkness Saturn swings,Even so my spir i t fe els th e spell of th ine .
SOPHIE JEWETT
!ELLEN BU R ROUGH S)
X IREMEMBER th e only wise th ing I ever d id ,The only good, was to love th e e .
PHILI P JAME S B A ILEY49
I N THE AIR
HE scent of a blossom from Eden !Th e flower was not g i ven to me,
But i t freshened my spiri t forever,
As i t passed , on i ts way to the e !
I n my soul i s a l i ng eri ng mus i cThe song was not meant for me,But I li sten , and li sten , and wonderTo whom it can loveli er be .
Th e sounds and th e scents th at float by usThey cannot tel l whi ther they goYet however i t fai ls of i ts errand,Love makes th e world sweeter, I know .
I know that love never i s wasted ,Nor truth , nor th e breath of a prayer ;
And th e though t th at goes forth as a blessingMust li ve
, as a joy i n the ai r.
LUCY LA RCOM
ALL true deep feel i ng purifies th e h eart ;Am I not better by my love for you !
At least I am less se lfish ; I would g i v e
My life to buy you happiness !
LETIT IA ELIZ ABETH LANDON
50
SONNET
IFi t be true that any beauteous thi ngRai se s th e pure and just desi res of man
From earth to God, the eternal Fou n t of all ,Such I bel i eve my love for as i n herSo fair
,in whom I al l beside forge t,
I View the gentle work of her Creator,I h ave no care for any other th ing,Whilst thus I love . Nor i s i t marve ll ous ,S ince the effec t i s not of my own power,I f th e soul doth , by nature temp ted forth,Enamoured through th e eyes,Repose upon th e eyes wh i ch i t re semble th ,And through th em riseth to the primal love,As to its end, and honors i n admi ring !For who adores his Maker must needs love h i s work .
WILLI AM WORDSWORTHI ta lian of M ichae l Ang e lo
GO ING TO CHURCH
ER soft vo ice, si ngularly h eard,Beside me i n the P salms
,wi thstood
The roar of voi ces,l i ke a bi rd
Sole warbli ng i n a windy wood
And when we knel t, Sh e se emed to beAn angel teach ing m e to pray ;And al l through the h igh LiturgyMy spiri t rejoi ced without all ay
,
SI
Be ing for once borne c learly aboveAll banks and bars of ig norance ,By thi s bright Spring t ide of pure love ,And floated in a free expanse
,
Whence it could se e from s i de to s ide ,The obscuri ty from every partWinnow’
d away and purifiedBy th e vi brations of my heart.
COVENTRY PATMORE
W ITH my love th i s knowledge too was given,Which e ach calm day doth strength en moreand more
,
That th ey who love are bu t one step from Heaven .
JAME S RU SSE LL LOWELL
52
I m e e t h e r on th e d u sty str e e t ,
And da isie s sy r ing abou t h e r fe e t ;Or , tou ch e d to life be n e a th h e r tr e ad ,An E ng lish cows lip lif ts its h ead .
H ENRY T IM ROD
I loved th e e f or tha t de ar , de ep lov ing ne ssRe st ing with in thy te nde r , br ooding ey e s ;
I loved th e e f or thy we a lth of woma nh ood,
Thy qu ie t qu est ion ing s , thy swe e t r eplie s ,Thy fia tien t br ows th a t h new no bit te r mood .
G EORGE FRANC I S ARMSTRONG
I must no t spring to g rasp thy hand ,To woo thy sm i l e
,to seek th ine eye ;
But I may stand far off, and gaze,And watch thee pass unconsci ous by
,
And spe ll thy looks,and g u ess thy tho ughts,
Mixed wi th th e id lers on the pier,
Ah , migh t I always res t unseen,So I might h ave th ee always near !
TO -morrow hurry th rough the fieldsOf Flanders to th e stor i ed Rh i ne !To-night those soft-fring ed eyes shal l closeBeneath one roof
,my queen ! wi th m i ne .
M ATTHEW ARNOLD
TYI NG HER BONNET UNDER HER CH I N
YI NG her bonnet under her chi n,
She ti ed her raven r inglets i n ;But not alone i n the s i lken snareD id sh e catch h er lovely floating ha i r,For
,tying h er bonnet unde r her ch i n,
She ti ed a young man ’s heart with i n .
They were stroll ing tog ether up the hi ll ,Where th e W i nd comes blowing merry and chi llAnd i t blew th e curls a frol i csome raceAll over th e happy peach -colored face,Ti ll
,scoldi ng and laughi ng
, sh e ti ed th em in,Under her beauti ful, dimpled ch i n .
56
And i t bl ew a color, brigh t as the bloomOf the pinkest fuchsia ’s tossing plume ,All over the cheeks of the prett i est g i rlThat ever imprisoned a romping curl,Or
,tying her bonnet u nder h er ch in,
Tied a young man’s heart with in .
Steeper and steeper g rew th e h i llMadder
,merri er
,ch i ll i er , sti ll
The western wind blew down and playedThe wi ldes t tri cks wi th th e l ittl e maid
,
As,tyi ng her bonnet under her ch i n ,
She ti ed a young man’s heart w ith i n .
0 western wind , do you th i nk i t was fai rTo play such tr i cks wi th th e float i ng hair !To gladly, g leeful ly, do your bestTo blow her agai nst the young man ’s breast
Where he as g l adly folded her in ,And kissed her mouth and dimpled Ch in !
Ah ! Ellery Vane , you li ttle thoughtAn hou r ago, when you besough t
Th is country lass to walk wi th you ,After the sun had dri ed th e dew,What peri lous danger you ’
d be i nAs sh e t i ed her bonnet under h er ch in .
NO RA PE R RY
57
LOVE ON DECK
NEVER loved you much,
”sh e sa id ,
But I wanted to pass th e t ime .
The hours pass S low on a ship, you know,
I n a lazy , tropi cal clime .Have I hurt you much ! Forg ive me, th en ,I f I own th at I was wrong .
Cure th e smart,and h eal your h eart,
By writi ng i t al l i n a song .
”
The waves flowed fre e , and the waves flowedwide ,
As'
th e y sat and whi spered side by s ide .
I never cared much for you , h e sa id ,But I wanted a subje ct fi t .
I ’d verses to m ake , and I thought I cou ld takeYour heart and model from i t .
Have I pai ned you much ! Forgi v e me, dear.A sh ip i s a dreary pl ace ;I t i s wrong to fl i rt
,but you are n ’
t much hurt ,And you h a v e a lovely face ! ”
The waves flowed free, and the waves flowedstrong ,
And the good sh ip bore them both along .
Each looked at each . They did not smi l eThe tears were i n ci ther ’s eyes .
And the cl iffs of England rose th e whi leFrom th e waves
,a white surpri se .
58
H and sought for hand ,“ Shall we gravely end
What firs t was a freak of the heart !Shall we mee t once more on the Engli sh shore
,
But th i s time never to part ! ”
The cl iff s rose wh ite from the sunny seas ,And church-bells sounded on the breeze .
GEORGE BARL ow
A RED,RED ROSE
H,my lu ve ’
s li ke a red, red rose,That ’s newly sprung i n June
Oh , my lu ve’s l ike the melod ie
That ’s sweetly played i n tun e.
As fa i r art thou,my bonnie lass
,
So deep i n lu ve am IAnd I wil l lu v e thee s till
,my dear
,
Till a ’ th e seas gang dry .
T i l l a’ th e seas gang dry, my dear,And the rocks melt i n the su n ,
I wil l lu ve th ee st i ll , my dear,While the sands 0 ’ li fe Shall run .
And fare thee wee! , my only lu v e !And fare thee weel awh i le !And I wi ll come again
,my lu ve ,
Though i t were ten thousand mi le .
ROBE RT BU RNS59
I N A GONDOLA
I .
TWAS nigh t in Venice . Then down to the t ide
,
Where a tall and Shadowy gondoli erLeaned on h i s oar, l ike a l i fted Spear! I
‘
was night i n Ven i ce . Then side by sideWe sat i n h is boat. Then oar a-tripOn the black boat ’s keel, th en d ip and dipThese boatmen Should build the ir boats more wide
,
For we were together and s ide by side .
I I .
The se a i t was level as seas of light,As sti ll as the l ight ere a hand was laid
TO the making of lands , or the seas were made .’T was fond as a bri de on her bridal night,When a gre at love swells i n he r soul l ike a se a,And makes h er but less than divini ty .
’T was night, the soul of th e day I WisA woman ’s face h idi ng from her first kiss .
I I I .’T was night in Venice . On o ’er the tideThese boats th ey are narrow as they can be ;These crafts th ey are narrow enough , and we,To balance th e boat , sat s ide by sideOut under th e arch of th e Bridge of S ighs
,
On under th e arch of th e star-sown ski es ;We two were togeth er on the Adrian S ea,The one fai r woman of th e world to me .
60
I V .
These narrow-bu i l t boats, they rock when at se a,And they make one afra id . SO She leaned to me ;And that i s th e reason alone there fe l lSuch golden folds of abundant hai rDown Over my shoulder, as we sat there .These boatmen should bui ld thei r boats more wide,Wider for lovers ! as wide ah
,wel l !
Bu t who i s the rascal to ki ss and tell !
JOA ! U IN M I LLER
A N I CE CORRESPONDENT
THE g low and the g lo ry are pl ightedTo darkn es s
,for even i ng i s come ;
The lamp i n Gl ebe Cottag e is l ighted ,The birds and the sheep-bell s are dumb.
I ’m alone,for th e others have flit t e d
To dine with a ne ighbor at KewAlone, but I
’m -not to be pi t i ed,
I ’m th inki ng of you
I wish you were here Were I dullerThan dull , you
’d be clearer than dear ;
I ’m drest i n your favorite color,
Dear Fred, how I wish you were here !I ’m weari ng my lazul i necklace
,
The necklace you fasten ’d askew ;Was th ere ever so rude or so recklessA darli ng as you !
6 1
I want you to come and pass sentenceO n two or three book s with a plotOf course you know “ Janet ’s RepentanceI ’m reading S ir Waverley Scott .
That story of Edgar and Lucy,HOW thri l l i ng , romanti c , and trueThe Master ! hi s bride wa s a gooseyRemi nds me of you .
They tell me Cockaigne has been crowningA Poet whose garland endures ;I t was you that fi rst told me of B rown ing
,
That s tupid Old Browning of yours !His vogue and hi s verve are alarming ,I ’m anxi ou s to g i ve h im h is du e ,But
,Fred
,h e ’
s not nearly so charmingA poet as you !
I heard how you shot at The BeechesI saw how you rode Chantic le er,I have read th e report of your speeches ,And echoed the echoing ch eer.
There ’s a wh isper of h earts you are break ing,Dear Fred , I bel i eve i t, I do !Small marvel th at Folly i s mak ingHer idol of you .
Alas for th e world,and i ts dearly
Bought tri umph,i ts fug i ti ve i ss
‘
Sometimes I h alf Wi sh I were merelyA plai n or a penni less miss ;
62
ANN I E LAUR I E
AXWE L TON braes are bonni eWhere early fa ’s th e dew
,
And it ’s there that Anni e Laur i eGi e ’d me her promise true
,
Gie ’d me her promi se true,
Which ne ’er forg ot will be ;And for bonni e Anni e Lauri eI ’d lay me doune and dee .
Her brow is l ik e th e snaw-dri ftH er throat is l i ke the swan ;Her face i t i s th e fai restThat e ’er the s u n shone on ,That e’er the su n shone on
,
And dark blue is her e e ;And for bonni e Anni e Lauri eI ’d lay me doun e and dee.
Like dew on th e gowan lyi ngI s the fa’ 0 ’ her fai ry fee t ;
And like winds i n summer s igh ingHer voice i s low and sweet
Her voi ce i s low and sweetAnd sh e ’
s a’ th e world to me ;And for bonni e Annie Lauri eI ’d l ay me doune and dee .
DOUGLAS64
UNDER THE ROSE
SHE wears a rose i n her hair,At th e twi l ight
’s dreamy close ;Her face i s fai r , h ow fai rUnde r th e rose
I steal l ike a shadow there ,As sh e si ts i n rapt repose ,And whisper my lovi ng prayerUnder th e rose
She takes the rose from her ha i r,
And her color comes and goes ;And I—a lover wi ll dareUnder th e rose
RICHARD HENRY STODDA RD
A LOVE EXTRAVAGANZA
ROW g reener, grass, wh ere th e river flowsHer feet h ave pressed you !
Blow fresher,v i olet ! l i ly ! rose !
Her eyes have blessed you .
S i ng sweeter,bi rds upon th e tree s ,
Her ears have heard youSound up to h eaven , ye harmoni e s !
Her hands have s t i rred you .
CHA RLE S MACKAY6s
THE SM ILE OF HER I LOVE
HE smile of her I love i s l i ke th e dawnWhose touch makes Memnon sing ;
Oh , se e where wide the golden sunlight flowsThe barren desert blossoms as the rose !
The smile of her I love—wh en that i s gone ,O ’er al l th e world n ight Spreads her shadowy wing.
RICHA RD WATSON G ILDE R
LOVE ’S PRAYER
F Heaven would h ear my prayer,
My deare st wish would be,Thy sorrows not to share ,But take them al l on me ;I f Heaven would hear my prayer.
I ’d beg wi th prayers and sigh sThat never a tear migh t flowFrom ou t thy lovely eyes,I f Heaven might grant i t so ;Mine be th e tears and sigh s .
No cloud thy brow sh ou ld cover,
But smil es each oth er chaseFrom lips to eyes all overThy sweet and sunny faceThe c louds my heart should cover .
66
That all thy path be l igh tLet darkness fall on me ;I f al l thy days be bright,Mine black as night cou ld be ;
My love would l igh t my nigh t.
For thou art more th an life,And i f our fai th Should s e tLi fe and my love at strife ,How cou ld I then forg etI love thee more than li fe !
JOHN HAY
LOVE
LEANED out of window, I smelt the wh i te c lover,Dark
,dark was th e garden , I saw not th e gate ;
“ Now if there be footsteps,h e comes
,my one lover
Hush , nightingale, hush ! O sweet n ighti ngale, wai t
T i ll I l i sten and h earI f a step draweth near
,
For my love he i s late !
“The skies i n th e darkness stoop neare r and nearer,A cluster of stars h ang s l ike fru i t i n the tree,The fall of the water comes sweeter
,comes clearer ;
To what art thou l i stening, and wh at dost thou see !Let th e star-clus ters grow,Let th e sweet wate rs flow,
And c ross qui ckly to me .
67
You nigh t-moths that hover where honey brims OverFrom sycamore blossoms , or settl e or sleep ;You glow-worms
,sh ine out and the pathway di scover
To h im that comes darkli ng along the rough steep .
Ah,my sai lor, make h aste ,
For the time runs to waste,
And my love l ie th de ep
Too deep for swift tell i ng ; and yet, my one lover,I ’ve conned thee an answer, i t waits thee to-night .By th e sycamore passed h e, and through th e wh ite
clover,Then all th e sweet speech I had fash i oned took
fl ight ;But I ’11 love h im more, moreThan e ’e r wife loved before
,
Be the days dark or br ight .
JEAN INGEL ow
HE cords of love mus t be strong as deathWhi ch hold and keep a heart,
Not daisy-Chains, th at snap in the breeze ,Or break with the i r weigh t apart.
PH !E BE CA RY
68
I lou e y ou . a r e sma ll ,’T is life spe aks pla in In twe n ty y e a rs
Pe rhapsy ou know a ll .
D INAH MAR IA MUL OCH CRAIK
THE SWEETEST FLOWER THAT B LOWS
HE sweetest flower that blowsI give you as we part ;
For you i t i s a roseFor me i t i s my heart .
The fragrance i t exhales
!Ah , if you only knewWhich but i n dyi ng fai ls,I t is my love of you .
The sweetest flower that growsI g ive you as we part ;
You thi nk i t but a rose ;Ah , me ! i t i s my heart .
F REDER ICK PETERSON
I LOVE THEE
LOVE thee— I love thee !’
T i s all th at I can say ;I t is my vision i n the night,My dreami ng in th e day
The very echo Of my heart,The bless ing when I pray.
I love th ee I love th ee !I s all th at I c an say .
7 2
I love thee— I love thee !
I s eve r on my tongue .
In al l my proudest poesyThat chorus st i l l i s sung ;I t i s th e verd i ct of my eye sAmidst the gay and youngI love thee— I love theeA thous and maids among.
I love thee I love thee !Thy brigh t and hazel glance
,
The mel low lute upon those l ips,Whose tender tones entrance .But most dear heart of hearts, thyThat stil l th ese words enhance !
I love thee I love th eeWhatever be thy chance .
THOMA S HOOD
SONG FROM A DRAMA
IKNOW not i f moonl ight or starlightBe soft on the land and the sea
,
I catch but th e near l ight, the far l ight,Of eyes that are beam i ng for me ;
The scent of the nigh t, of the roses,May burde n the ai r for th ee, Swee t,
’T i s only th e breath of thy s igh ingI know as I lie at thy fee t .
7 3
The winds may be sobbing or s ingi ng,The i r touch may be fervent or cold
,
Th e night bells may tol l or be ringing,I care not wh ile th ee I e nfold !
The feast may go on,and th e musi c
Be scattered i n ecstasy round,
Thy wh isper, “ I love th ee ! I love thee !”
Hath flooded my soul w i th i ts sound .
I th ink not of t ime that i s flying,
How short i s the hour I h ave won,
How near is th is l ivi ng to dyi ng ,How the Shadow sti l l follows th e sun ;
There i s naught upon earth , no d es ireWorth a though t, though
’
t were h ad by a S ign !I love thee ! I love th ee ! bring nigherThy Spi ri t , thy kisses, to mine .
EDMUND CLA RENCE STEDMAN
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
HAT love do I bring you ! Th e earthFull of love were far l igh ter ;
l‘
he great hollow sky full of loveSometh i ng sl ighter .
Earth full and heaven full were lessThan th e ful l measure gi ven !Nay, say a heart full , the heartHolds earth and heave n !
H ARR IET PR E SCOTT SPOFFORD74
SONNET
Amor ch e a nullo amato amar pe rdona. DANTEAmor m ’
addu sse in Si gio iosa Spe ne . PETRARCA
0MY heart ’s heart and you who are to meMore than myself myself, God be wi th you ,
Keep you in strong obedience , leal and trueTo hi m whose nobl e serv i ce setteth free ,Give you all good we see or can foresee,Make your joys many and your sorrows few,Bless you i n what you bear and what you do,Yea , perfect you as He would have you be.So much for you ; but what for me , dear fr i end !To love you wi thout st i nt and all I canTo—day
,to-morrow
,world wi thout an end
To love you much,and ye t to love you more
,
As Jordan at i ts flood sweeps ei ther ShoreS i nce woman is the helpmeet made for man .
CH R I STINA G . ROSSETTI
BECAUSE
ITis not because your heart i s mi ne—mine only
M i ne alone ,I t i s not because you choose me weak and lonely
For your own ;Not because the earth i s fai rer, and the skie s
Spread above youAre more radi ant for th e sh i ning Of your eyes
That I love you !
75
I t is no t because the world ’s pe rpl exed mean ingGrows more clear ;
And th e Parapets Of Heaven, wi th ang els leaning,Seem more near ;
And Nature s ings of prai se wi th al l h er voi cesS ince you rs spoke,
S ince wi th i n my si len t heart,th at now rejo ices
,
Love awoke
Nay, not even because your hand holds heart and l ife,At you r w i l l
S ooth ing,b u sh ing all its di scord , mak ing stri feCalm and sti l l ;
Teach ing Trust to fold her wing s , nor ever roamFrom her nest
Teach ing Love that h er securest,safes t home
Must be Rest .
But because th i s h uman Love, though true and
sweet,Yours and mine,
Has been sent by Love more tender, more complete,More divin e,
That i t l eads ou r hearts to rest at last i n Heaven ,Far above you ;
Do I take you as a gift that God h as givenAnd I love you !
ADELA IDE ANNE PROCTER76
ONE FACE
NE face looks up from every page,From snowy cloud or tranqui l se a ;
One face that can all woes assuage,Dearer than all the world to me .
The eyes are mi ld , th e brow i s fai r ;The voi ce i s sweet as song of birdHow oft my hand upon the hai rHas rested with no spoken word !
The years wil l come and go again ;Their joys and sorrows th ey wi l l traceOn lip , and brow, and busy brain ,And heaven wi ll hold that one cl ear face .
S A RA K . BOLTON
FROM “ THE CUP OF YOUTH
GA SPAR .
TELL me agai n you love me .
GELOSA .
Small my need,’
T is i n my eyes ;’t i s on my l ips ; my heart
Beats to th i s musi c al l th e long day through ,I am l ike a bi rd that hath one only noteFor song, for prayer, for th anks, for everyth ing.
77
GA SPA R .
You cannot know how passi ng sweet i t i sTo ch ange th e camp
,th e field, th e storms of war
For th i s and you ! to watch the gray morn wane,
And se e th e Slumbrous se a leap here and thereTo S i lver dreams .
GELOSA .
The hand of t ime seems stayed,And joy to own th e ever constant hours ,So full of sti l l assurance i s th e night .
Love hath th e qui et certainty of HeavenR i ch with th e promise of unchang i ng years .
S . WE I R M ITCHELL
A LOVE SYMPHONY
ALONG the garden ways just nowI h eard the flowers speak .
The whi te rose told me of your brow,
The red rose of your ch eekThe l i ly of your bended head ,The bindweed of your hai r ;Each looked h i s lovel i est and saidYou were more fai r .
I went i nto the wood anon,
And heard the wi ld bi rds s ingHow sweet you were ; th ey warbled on,Piped , t ri l led the self-same thing .
FOUR WORD S
E L OV ED, th e bri efest words are bestAnd a ll th e fine euphonious ways
I n wh ich the truth h as been express edS ince Adam ’s early Eden days
,
Could never match the s imple phrase,
Sweetheart, I love you !
I f I should say the world were blankWithout your fac e ; i f I should callTh e stars to witness
,rank on rank
,
That I am true al though th ey fall,
’T would mean but th i s
,—and thi s means
Sweetheart,I love you !
And so, whatever change i s wroughtBy t ime or fate
,delight or dole
,
One si ngle,h appy
,helpful thought
Makes strong and calm my steady soul,
And thes e sweet words contai n the Who le,
Sweetheart,I love you !
I w ill not wrong th eir truth to-dayBy wild, impassioned vows of fa i th,S ince all that volumes could conveyIs compassed thus i n half a breath ,Which holds and hallows l ife and death
,
Sweetheart , I l ove you !
ELIZ A BETH AKERs ALLEN80
URV ASI
TI S a story told by Kalidasa ,Hindoo poet
,i n melodious rhyme,
How,wi th trai n of maidens
,young Urvasi
Came to keep g reat I ndra’s fes tal time .
‘T was her part i n worsh ipful confess ionO f th e god-name on that sacred day,Walking flower- crowned in the long process ion,I love Puru-shotta-ma, to say .
Pure as snow on Himalayan ranges,Heaven-descended
,soon to heaven withdrawn ,
Fai rer than the moon -flowe r of the GangesWas Urvasi, daughter of the Dawn.
But i t h appened that the gentl e maidenLoved one Puru-Avas
,fateful name !
And her heart, w i th its swee t secret laden ,Fal tered when her time of utterance came .
I love then sh e s topped,and people wondered ;
I love sh e must guard h er secret wel l ;Then from sweetest lips that eve r blunderedI love Puru-Avas, trembl i ng fell .
Oh what te rror sei zed on poor Urvasi !
Misty grew the violets of her eyes,And her fo rm bent l ike a broken da isy,Whi le around her ros e th e mocking cri es.
8 1
But great I ndra said . The maid sh al l marryH im whose image i n her fai thful h eart
Sh e so near to that of God doth carry,
S carce h er l ips can keep th e ir names apart .”
Call i t then not weakness or d issembl ingI f
,i n strivi ng the h igh name to reach ,
Through our voices runs th e tender trembl ingOf an earthly name too dear for speech !
Ever dwel ls the lesse r i n the greater ,I n God ’s love th e human ; we by theseKnow He holds love’s simplest stammering sweeterThan cold praise of wordy Ph arisees .
HELEN BA R RON BOSTWICK
PROTESTATI ON S
IFth e apple grow on th e apple-tree ,And the wild wind blow o ’er th e wi ld wood free,And th e dark stream flow to the darker sea,And th ey al l had ceased growing and blowing and
flowing,I cannot help loving th ee I cannot help lovi ng
thee !As flows th e dark blue stream to th e deeper se a ,I cannot help loving thee ! I cannot h elp lovingthee !
82
BENED I C ITE
OD ’S love and peace be wi th thee , whereSoe
’
e r th i s soft autumnal a irLifts th e dark tresses of thy h air !
Whether th rough c i ty e aseme nt s comesI ts k iss to thee
,i n crowded rooms
,
Or out among the woodland blooms,
I t freshe ns o ’er thy though tful face,
Imparting,i n i ts glad embrace
,
Beauty to beauty, grace to grace
Fair Nature ’s book together read,
The old wood-paths that knew our tre ad ,The maple sh adows overh ead
,
The h i lls we cl imbed , th e ri ver see nBy gle ams along its deep ravine ,All keep thy memory fresh and green .
Where ’er I look,where ’er I stray,
Thy though t goes wi th me on my way,And hence th e prayer I breathe to-day ;
O ’er lapse of t ime and change of scene,Th e weary waste whi ch l ie s betweenThyself and me
,my heart I l ean .
84
Thou lack ’st not fr iendsh ip ’s spel l-word , nor
The half unconsc ious power to drawAll hearts to th in e by love ’s sweet l aw .
With th ese good g i fts Of God i s castThy lot
,and many a charm thou hast
To hold the blessed angels fast .
If,then, a fervent w ish for th ee
The grac ious heavens will h eed from me,What should
,dear heart
,its burden be !
The sighing of a shaken reed ,Wh at can I more than meekly pl eadThe greatness of our common need !
God ’s love, unchangi ng, pure, and true,The paraclete wh i te sh ini ng throughH is peace
,th e fall of He rmon
’s dew
With such a prayer on th i s sweet day,As thou mayest hear and I may say,I gre e t thee, dearest, far away !
JOHN GREENLEA F WH ITTIE R
85
I t h as be en su ch a day as tha t,th ou knowest , wh en
fi rs t
I sa id I loved th e e th a t long , su nny day
We passed upon th e wa te rs , h e eding na ug h t ,
S e e ing na ug h t bu t each oth e r .
PH ILIP JAMES BA ILEY
Notfr om th e whole wide wor ld I choose th ee ,Swe e th ea r t , lig h t of th e land and th e sea
Th e wide , wide wor ld cou ld not enclose th e e ,
For thou ar t th e whole wide wor ld to m e .
R ICHARD WATSON G ILDER
\V HAT THE ROSE SAW
THE ROSE .
OH ,Li ly sweet
,I Saw a pleasant
THE L ILY.
Where saw you i t,and when
THE ROSE .
Here, when the nightL ay calmly over al l and covered us,And no wi nd blew, however tremulous ,I heard afar th e l ight fal l of h er feetAnd murmur of her raiment soft and sweet.
THE LILY .
What said sh e to th ee wh en sh e came anear !
THE ROSE .
N 0 word , but o’er me bent ti ll I could h ear
The be ating of h er h eart , and feel her bloodSwe ll to a blossom that whi ch was a bud.
Alas , I h ave no words to tell the bli ssWhen on my trembl ing petal s fel l h er ki ss ;Sweeter than soft rain falli ng after heat
,
Or dew at dawn , was that ki ss Soft and sweet.Then fel l another shadow on the g round,And fo r a l i tt le space there was no soundI knew who stood besi de he r, saw hi s faceSh in ing and happy i n that happy place .I know not what they sa id ; but th is I knowTh ey ki ssed and passed ! where th ink you did they go !
PH ILI P BOURKE MA R STON89
LOVERS
ACRASH of boughs one through them breaki ng !
Mercy i s startled,and fain would fly,
But e ’en as Sh e turns, h er steps o’e rtaking ,
He pleads wi th her, “ Mercy, i t i s but I
Mercy ! he touch es her hand unbi dden,
The air is balmy, I pray you stay,Mercy ! Her downcast eyes are h idden .
And never a word sh e has to say,
Ti ll closer drawn , her prison’d fingers
He takes to h i s l i ps wi th a yearni ng strong ;And sh e murmurs low, that late sh e l i ngers ,Her moth er wi ll want her and th ink her long.
Good mother i s she th en honor dulyThe l ightest wi sh i n h er heart th at s tirsBut th ere i s a bond ye t d earer truly
,
And there is a love that passeth hers .
Mercy, Mercy !” Her heart at t e nde th ,
Love ’s bi rthday blush on her brow l ies sweet ;She tu rns her face when h i s own he bendeth ,And th e l ips of the youth and th e maiden meet .
JE AN INGELOW
WON ’T YOU
DO you remember when you heardMy lips breathe love ’s first faltering word !
You do, sweet don ’t you !
When,hav ing wandered al l th e day
,
Linked arm in arm I dared to say,You ’
11 love me won ’t you !
And when you blushed, and could not speak,I fondly ki ss ed your g lowing cheek ;
Did that affront you !Oh , surely not ; your eye e xpre stNo wrath
,but said
,perhaps i n j est,
“You ’11 love me—won ’t you ! ”
I ’m sure my eyes rep l i ed, I wi ll ;And you believe that promise sti l l ;
You do , sweet don ’ t you !Yes, yes, when age has made our eyesUnfit for questi ons or repl i es,
You ’
11 love me won ’t you !
THOMAS HAYNES BAY L Y
KI S S ME SOFTLY
I S S me softly and speak to me low,
Mal i ce h as ever a vigi lant e ar ;What i f mal i ce were lurking near
Kiss me, de ar !Kiss me softly and speak to me low .
9 2
Kiss me softly and speak to me low,
Envy too has a watchful ear ;What i f envy should chance to hear !
Kiss me, dear '
Kiss me softly and speak to me low .
Kiss me softly.
and speak to me low,
Trust me, darl i ng, th e time is nearWhen lovers may love wi th never a fe ar ,
Kiss me , dear '
Kiss me softly and speak to me low .
JOHN GODFREY SAXE
PROPOSAL
THE viole t loves a sunny bank,The cowsl ip loves th e lea ,
The scarlet creeper loves the elm ;But I love thee .
The sunshi ne k i sses mount and vale,The stars , they ki ss the s e a,The west winds kiss the clover bloom ,
But I ki ss —th ee .
The oriol e weds hi s mottled mate,The li ly ’
s bri de 0 ’ th e bee ;Heaven ’s marri age ring is round th e earthShall I wed thee !
BAYARD TAYL OR
93
FOUR- LEAF CLOVER
F one find a four-l eaf clover
! She said , s itti ng on th e grass) ,He can wi sh whate ’er h e likes to
,
And th at wi sh shal l come to pass .
Do you say so !” then down kneeling
’Mong the sorrel and cropt grass,
Looked I for a four- leaf cloverAnd my wi sh to come to pass .
Long I search ed among the sorrel ,Close bes ide me sh e searched tooNow and then some commonplacesBroke the si lence,—but i t grew.
For my heart was ful l of yearni ng ,And my mouth of eag er words,But I dared not give them utterance,So I h earkened to the bi rds ;
And kept looking,looki ng, looki ng,
While bes ide me sh e looked tooTwo bent figures i n the twiligh t,Green h i lls pal i ng i nto blue .
Ha, I h ave one !” Yes , and wished for !
”
You,and sh all i t be ! ” I cri ed ,
Eyes cast down sh e asked demurely,Hath the clover not repli ed ! ”
GEORGE HOUGHTON94
FROM “! UEEN MARY
Tb e H appiest Hou r .
IT was Maytime ,And I was walk ing with th e man I loved ,I loved him
,bu t I though t I was not loved ;
And both were si lent,l etti ng the wild brook
Speak for us,ti l l h e stoop
’d and gathered one
From out a bed of th i ck forget-me-nots ,L ook
’d h ard and sweet at me and g ave i t me .
I took i t,tho ’ I did not know I took i t,
And put i t i n my bosom,and al l at once
I fel t h i s arm about me , and h is l ips .
AL FRED TENNYSON
EVEN ING SONG
OOK Off, dear Love , across th e sallow sands,And mark yon meeting of the su n and se a ;
How long they kiss in sigh t of all the landsAh
,longer, longer, we
Now i n th e sea’s red vi ntag e melts the su n ,As Egypt’s pearl dissolved i n rosy wi ne
,
And Cleopatra n ight dri nks all . ’T i s done,
Love , lay thi ne hand in min e.
Come forth , sweet stars , and comfort heaven’s h eart ;
Glimmer, ye waves , rou nd else unl ighted sands .0 Night ! divor c e our su n and sky apart,Never our l ips, our h ands .
S IDNEY LAN IER96
A weak' wit ite g ir l
H e ld a ll lzis lzea r tstr ing s in ize r sma ll wh ite Izand ;
H is y ou th , a nd powe r , and maj esty we r e lze r s,And not lt is own .
! EAN INGEL ow
So th e se lives tlzat Izad r u n tnu s f a r in sepa ra tee/zann e ls,
Com ing in sigh t of e ar/z olb e r , tfie n swe rv ing a nd
f lowing a su nde r ,
P a r ted by ba r r ie rs s trong , bu t and
nea re r ,
R u sh ed tog e tfie r a t la st , and one was lost in
oth er .
HENRY WADSWORTH L ONGFE L L OW
THE L ITTLE BROWN CAB IN
IDREAM Of i t, tossi ng about i n my skiff,The l i ttl e brown cabin j ust under th e cliff
The wi ld rose blown i n at the window I s e e,
And Rose at th e door, looking out after me ;My sweetheart, my wife,The Rose of my li fe
The su n i n th e doorway strikes gold from her h airThe breeze fi l ls the l i ttle brown house with sal t ai r,And she leans to i ts breath , as i f over the se aI t were bri nging a ki s s and a message from me ;
My pretty wi ld Rose,
The sweetest th at grows
I have not one wish from my darl ing apartThe thought of h er sweetens my so u l and my heart ;And my boat l ike a b ird fl i es across the blue se a
To th e l i tt l e brown cabi n where Rose waits for me,The Ros e of my life
,
My own blessed wife !LUCY LARCOM
SUMMER
OW sinks th e summer s u n'
in to the sea ;Sure never such a sunse t shone as th i s ,That on its golden wing has borne such bl iss,
Dear Love, to thee and me .
1 0 0
Ah,l ife was drear and lonely
,miss ing thee ,
Though what my loss I did not then divi ne ;But all i s past
,the sweet words
,thou art mine,
Make bliss for th ee and me .
How swells th e l igh t breeze o’er the blossoming lea
,
Sure never wi nds swept past so swe et and low,No lone ly, unblest future wai teth now,
Dear Love, for thee and me .
Look upward o ’er the glowi ng west,and se e ,
Surely the star of evening never shoneWith such a holy radi ance oh , my own ,
Heaven smiles on thee and me.
MAR IETTA HOL L EY
S HE WAS M I NE
HY tears o ’e rpriz e thy loss Thy wifeI n what was sh e parti cular !
Others of comely face and l ife,Others as chaste and warm there are ,And when they Speak they seem to sing ;Beyond her sex sh e was not wise
And there is no more common th i ngThan ki ndness i n a woman ’s eyes .
Then wherefore weep so long and fast,Why so exceed ing ly rep i ne !Say, how has thy Beloved su rpass
’d
SO much al l others ! ” “ She was mi ne .COVENTRY PATMO RE
HOME .
WO birds wi th i n one nest ;Two hearts wi th i n one breast ;Two Spi ri ts i n on e fai r
,
Firm leagu e Of love and prayer,Together bound for aye , together blest.
An ear that waits to catchA hand upon the latch ;A step that hastens i ts sweet rest to wm ,
A world of care wi thout,A world of strife shut out
,
A world of love shut i n .
DORA GREENWEL L
FOR THOUGHTS
PANSY on h i s breast sh e laidSplendid and dark wi th Tyri an dyes
,
Take i t,’t is l ike your tender eyes
,
Deep as the midn ight heaven,”sh e said .
The ri ch rose mantling i n her che ek ,Before h im li ke the dawn sh e s tood,Pausi ng upon l i fe ’s h eight
,subdued
,
Yet tri umph ing, both proud and meek ;
And wh i te as wi nter stars , i ntenseWith steadfast fire
,h i s bri l l iant face
Bent toward her with an eager grace,
Pale with a rapture h alf suspense .
1 0 2
Of course you have bee n break ing h eartsOf poor Kanaka gi rl s i
”
Wh erever I h ave been,
” he said,
I kept my sh ip i n s ight,The l i ttl e anchor on th e left,The great one on the right.
I heard las t night that you were i n,I walked the wh arves to day
,
But saw no sh ip that looked li ke yours ;Where does th e good Ship lay !I want to go on board of h er.”
And so you shal l,
” s aid he ;But there are many th ings to doWhen one comes h ome from se a .
You know th e song you made for me !I si ng i t day and nigh t
,
‘ The l i ttle anchor on the left,The great one on the right . ’
But how ’s your wi fe and li ttle one ! ”
Come home wi th me,” he said .
Go on,go on ; I follow you .
”
I followed where he led .
He had a pleasant l i ttle hous e ;The door was open wide
,
And at the door th e clearest faceA dearer one insi de .
He hugged h is wi fe and ch ild ; he sang,Hi s spi ri ts were so l igh t,The l i ttl e anchor on the left
,
The great one on the righ t.”
1 04
!
Fwas supper-time,and we sat down,
The sai lo r ’s wife and ch i ldAnd he and I he looked at them ,
And looked at me,and smi led .
“ I th ink of th is wh en I am tossedUpon the stormy foam
,
And though a thou sand leag ue s away,I am anchored here at home .”
Then, giving e ach a ki ss, he said ,“ I se e i n dreams at n ightThi s li tt le anchor on my left
,
This great one on my right .
R ICHARD HENRY STODDARD
ND i n th at twi ligh t hush , God drew th eir heartsI ndi ssolubly Close . Fo r what is love
But h is most pe rfect weav ing,i ntertwine
Of the soul ’ s deathless fibres th read ing i nOur human live s, one weft wi th th e d ivi ne .
LUCY LARCOM
OR th ere are two heavens,sweet,
Both made of love,— one
,i nconce ivable
Ev ’n by the oth er, So divine i t is ;The other, far on thi s S ide of th e stars,By men called home .
LE IGH HUNTIo5
ON A CYCLAMENPl u ebed a t Ca n a of Ga lile e a nd pre sem
’ed to a br ide .
NL Y a flower ! but, cle ar, i t grewOn the g reen m ountains wh ich e u -ring
Kana- e l-Je l i l ; looking toThe vi llage and the l i ttle spr i ng !
The Love wh i ch did those br i dals blessEver and ever on you sh in eMake happi er a l l your happi ness ,And turn i ts water i nto wine
EDW IN ARNOL D
FROM “ THE HANGI NG OF THE CRANE
OFORTUNATE , 0 happy day,When a new household finds i ts place
Among th e myr iad homes of earth ,Like a new star j ust sprung to bi rth
,
And rolled on i ts harmoni ous wayI nto the boundless realms of space !
For two alone,th ere i n the h al l
,
I s spread th e table round and small ;Upon the poli sh ed s ilver sh i neThe eveni ng lamps ; but, more d ivi ne,The light of love Shi nes over all ;Of love that says not m ine and th i ne ,But ours, for ours i s mi ne and th ine .
1 0 6
Two parents by the evening fireThe red ligh t fel l about thei r kn eesOn h eads that rose by slow degreesLike buds upon the li ly spire .
0 patien t l i fe !
0 te nder strife
The two sti ll sat togethe r there,The red l ight shone about thei r knees ;But all th e heads by slow degreesHad gone and left that lonely pair.
0 voyage fas tO vani shed past !
The red l ight shone upon th e floorAnd m ade th e space between them wide,They drew thei r Chai rs up sid e by side,Thei r pale Cheeks joined, and sai d ! Once more !
O memori es !0 past that i s
GEORGE EL IOT
HERE we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave,but not ou r
hearts,Though o ’er us sh i nes th e jasper-l ighted domeThe ch ai n may lengthen but i t n ever parts
O L IVER WENDEL L HOL MES
Io8
be many fil ing s
TIza t se em r igi dfa ir , be low, above ,
B u t su r e not one among t/ze zn a ll
so swe e t a s lov e .
O L IV ER WENDEL L HOLMES
I KNOW MYSELF THE BEST BELOVEDOF ALL
IKNOW myself the best beloved of allThe many dear to him ; yet not i ndeedBecause of h is swift thought for e ve ryn e e d
Of my love ’s craving ; I could scarcely callMy very own the power to enthrallSuch chivalry as h i s
,that turns to h eed
Each sl igh test Claim ,nor th inks to ask the meed
Of Love returned where Love ’s swe et offeri ngs fall .Not then because of all he 1 5 to meBut by th i s surer token ! when h e earnsThe right to h is own happiness, or yearnsFor some sweet, sudden , answeri ng sympathy,Ah me ! wi th what quick-beati ng heart I se eFor h i s own j oy i t i s to me he turns !
A L ICE WEL L INGTON ROL L INS
OH,THAT WE TWO WERE MAYING
H , that we two were Maying ,Down th e stream of the soft spring breez e ;
Like ch ildren wi th violet s playi ng ,I n the shade of th e whi speri ng trees .
Oh , th at we two sat dreamingOn th e sward of some she ep- trimmed down ,Watchi ng the wh i te mi st steamingOver r iver and mead and town .
1 1 2
Oh,th at we two lay sleeping
I n our nest in the churchyard sod,With our l imbs at rest on the quiet earth ’s breast
,
And our souls at home with God .
CHARL ES KINGSL EY
THREE KI S SES
FIRST time he kissed me
, b e but only ki ssedThe fingers of th i s h and wherewi th I wri te ,
And ever s i nce i t grew more Clean and white ,Slow to world-greeti ngs
,quick wi th its “ Oh
,l i s t ! ”
When the angel s speak . A ring of amethystI could not wear h ere plainer to my S igh tThan that firs t kiss. The second passed i n heightThe first, and sought th e forehead, and half mi ssedHalf fall ing on the h air . 0 beyond meed
That was the chr i sm of love,wi th love ’s own crown,
With sanctifying sweetness,did precede .
The th i rd upon my lips was folded downI n perfect
,purple state ! s ince when , i nde ed
I have been proud and said, My Love, my own .
EL IZ ABETH BARRETT BROWN ING
ITH what a graceful tenderness he lovesAnd breathes the softe st, th e si ncerest vows !
Complacency, and truth , and manly sweetnessDwell ever on hi s tong ue and smooth h i s though ts .
JOSEPH ADD ISON1 1 3
MY LETTERS
Y letters all dead paper mute and wh ite !And yet they seem alive and quive ring
Against my tremulous hands whi ch loose the stringAnd le t th em drop down on my knee to-night .
This said He wished to h ave me in h is S ightOnce
,as a fri end ; th i s fixed a day i n Spri ng
To come and touch my hand, a simple th i ng,Yet I wept for i t ! th i s the paper ’s lightS aid
,D e a r , I lov e ib e e ; and I sank and quai led,
As if God ’s future thundered on my past ;Th is said, I am t/z ine , and so i ts ink has paledWith lyi ng at my heart
,that beat too fast ;
And thi s 0 Love , thy words have i l l avai l ed,I f what th is sai d I dared repeat at l ast !
EL IZABETH BARRETT BROWN ING
MAY AND LOVE .
MAY i n the woods and i n my h eart,And we bes ide the river ;
King l ove between u s flyingSaid, “ Ch ildren , love forever.
I heard h im,and I thought Sh e h eard,
Her lips began to quiver ,And so I shyly k issed her ;Love laughed along the river !
STOPFORD A . BROOKE
I I4
LOVERS
TWO young fair lovers,
Where th e warm June wi nd,Fresh from th e sunny fields
,
Pl ays fondly round them,
Stand,tranced i n j oy,
With sweet, join
’d voices ,And wi th eyes brimm ing ;Ah
,
” they cry,Desti ny,
Prolong the present !Time
,stand sti ll here
MATTHEW ARNOL D
ANSWER TO A CH I LD ’S ! UESTION
DO you ask what the bi rds say ! The sparrow,the dove,
The li nnet,and thrush say,
“ I love,and I love
I n winter they ’re s i lent, the wind i s so strong ;
What i t says I don’t know, but i t S ings a loud song.
But green leaves , and blossoms, and sunny warmweather
,
And singing and lovi ng, all come back together .But the lark is so brimful of gladness and love
,
The g reen fields below him , th e blu e sky above,That he S ings and h e sing s, and forever si ng s he,I love my Love , and my Love loves me .
SAMUEL TAYL OR CO L ER IDGEI I 6
LOVE NOTES
HE ni gh ting ale has a lyre of gold,The lark’s i s a c larion call,
And the blackbi rd plays but a box-wood flute ,B u t I love h im best Of all .
For h i s song i s al l of th e j oy of l i feAnd we in the mad spring weath e r,We two have l istened ti l l h e sangOu r hearts and l ips together .
W IL L IAM ERNEST HENL EY
SONG FROM “ P IERO DA CAST IGLI ONE
! OY of l ife , 0 joy of love !When cloudless ski e s are blue above,
I n starry spri ng !When h appy warblers on the wingDo mati ng bui ld the ir nests and si ng,
0 joy of l ife
0 j oy of li fe, 0 joy Of love !When God in cloudless ski es aboveKni ts heart to heartTh at t ime
,nor fate
,nor death can part .
STUART STEARNE
I I 7
ON A CLOCK
ONELY once, my love away,To th i s s lave of Tim e I c ri edFaster on your journey gl ide,
Let your feet no second stay ;Speed the dreary nigh t and day
He al l h eedless,obstinate
,
Never qui ckened in h is g ait .
Happy once , my love i n sight,To th i s slave of Time I prayedB e your journey slowly made
,
Loi ter w i th me i n del ight ;S tay the h appy day and nigh t
Obst inate , he heard at lastHeard , and hurried twi ce as fast .
FRANK DEMPSTER SHERMAN
LOVE ’S LANGUAGE
HE I R l i ttl e l anguage the ch i ldren
Have, on the knee as they si t ;And only those who love themCan find the key to i t.
The words thereof and th e grammarPerplex the logic ian ’s a rt ;But th e h eart goes straigh t wi th the meaning,And the meani ng i s c lear to th e h eart .
I 1 8
0 L ife I wha t af te r -j oy hast th ouL ike L ov e
’s fi r st ce r ta i n g ladn e ss
MARY HOWITT
Noth ing is be tte r , I we ll hnow,
Th a n lot/e .
A L GE RNON CHARL ES SWINBURNE
L ife m ay to y ou br ing e v e ry g ood
Wh ie/i fr om a Fa th e r’
s h and canfa ll.B u t if t r u e libs h a v e sa id to m e ,
“ l lozxe y ou ,
”! h a v e known it a ll !
PH tE BE CARY
Whe re tru e love bestows its sweetn ess,
Where true fri endsh ip lays i ts hand,
Dwells al l greatness,al l completeness
,
All the wealth of eve ry land .
Man i s greater than condi t ion,And where man h imself bestows
,
He begets,and gives position
To the gentlest th at he knows .
Neithe r m i racle nor fabl eI s th e water changed to wine ;
Lords and lad i es at my tableProve Love ’s simplest fare d ivi ne.
And if these accept my duty,I f th e loved my homage own ,I have won all worth and beauty ;I h ave found the magi c stone .
JOS IAH G IL BERT HOL L AND
IS IMPLY say that sh e i s good,And loves me with pure womanhood .
When that is said , why, what remai ns !
JOA ! U IN M IL L ER
1 24
THE SONG OF THE CAMP
IVE us a song th e soldi ers cr ied,The outer trenches guarding ,
When th e heated guns of the camps all iedGrew weary of bombarding.
The dark Redan,i n si lent scoff
,
Lay, grim and threateni ng, under ;And th e tawny mound of the MalakoffN0 longer belched i ts thunder .
There was a paus e . A guardsman said“We storm the forts to-morrowS ing whi le we may
,anoth er day
Will bri ng enough of sorrow .
They lay along the battery ’s si de,
Below th e smoking cannon ;Brave hearts from Severn and from Clyde,And from the banks of Shannon .
They sang of love and not of fameForgot was Bri ta i n ’s glory ;Each heart recalled a different name
,
But al l sang Anni e Lauri e .”
Voice after vo ice caught up the song ,Unti l i ts tender passionRose li ke an anth em
,ri ch and strong,
The i r battle-eve confession .
1 2 5
Dear girl, h e rmame he dared not spe ak,
But,as the song grew louder
,
Someth i ng upon the soldi er ’s cheekWashed off the stains of powder .
Beyond th e darkening ocean burnedThe bloody sunset ’s embers
,
While th e Crimean valleys l earnedHow Engli sh love remembers.
And once again a fire of hel lRained on th e Russi an quartersWith scream of shot
,and burst of shell
,
And bellowing of the mortars .
And I ri sh Nora’s eye s are dimFor a S inger
,dumb and gory
,
And Engli sh Mary mourns for h imWho sang of Annie Lauri e .
Sleep,soldiers ! s ti l l i n honored rest
Your truth and valor wear i ng ;The bravest are the tenderest
,
The lovi ng are the dari ng .
BAYARD TAYL OR
LOVE i s th e only good i n th e world
,
Henceforth be loved as h eart can love,
Or bra i n devise , or hand approve .
ROBERT BROWN ING1 2 6
Love i s better than ki th or ki nS o close sh e clung, and So close clasped he,They heard no sob of th e bi tter wi nd ,Or snow that shuddered along th e lea.
Love i s better th an li fe and breathTh e drifts are over th e horse ’s knee ,Softly they si nk to th e soft wh i te death
,
And the snow shroud h ides them s i lently .
Houses and lands are gone for aye ;Ki th and kin l ike th e wild wind flee ;Li fe and death have vanished away ;But love hath blossomed eternally .
ROSE TERRY COOKE
OVE ’S l igh t i s strange to you ! Ah , me !Your heart i s an unquickened seed
,
And whatsoe’er your fortunes be ,I tel l you , you are poor indeed .
What toucheth i t, i t maketh brigh t,Yet loseth noth ing, l i ke the sun ,With i n whose great and grac ious l ightA thousand dew-drops sh ine as one
A L ICEI 2 8
AN EXTRAVAGANZA
Enfant ! Si j’eta is roi
, j e donnerais l ’empire.
I’D g i ve, Gi rl !were I but a ki ng) ,Throne
,sceptre, empi re , everyth ing
My people suppliant on the knee ;My ships that crowd the subj ect se a ;My crown , my bath s of porphyry ,For one sweet look from thee
Were I a god , I’d gi ve —th e air ,
Earth , and the s e a ; th e ang els fair ;The ski e s ; th e g olden worlds aro u nd ;The demons whom my laws have bound ;Chaos and its dark progeny ;All space and all eterni ty
,
For one love-kiss from thee
V ICTOR HUGO
THE TWO LOVES
MOOTH ING soft the nestl i ngOf a maiden fancy-led,
Thus a grave-eyed woman sai d
R i chest gifts are those we make,Dearer than the love we takeThat we g ive for love ’s own sake .
1 2 9
Well I k now the heart ’s unrest ;Mine h as been the common quest
,
To be loved and therefore blest .
Favors u ndeserved were mi ne ;At my feet as on a shri neLove h as laid i ts gifts divi ne .
Sweet the Offeri ngs seemed,and yet
With thei r sweetness came regret,And a sense of unpai d debt .
Heart of m i ne unsati sfied ,Was i t van i ty or prideThat a deeper j oy deni ed !
Hands that op e but to rece iveEmpty close ; th ey only l iveR ichly
,who can richly give.
Sti ll,
”sh e sighed wi th moistening
Love i s swee t i n any g ui se ;But i ts best i s s acrifice !
He who,giving , does not crave
Likest i s to H im who g aveLife i tself th e loved to save .
Love, that se lf-forgetful gives,Sows surprise of ripened sheaves
,
Late or soon i ts own rece ives .”
JOHN GREEN L EAF WH ITT IER1 3 0
FROM KATR I NA
I DREW her headDown to my cheek , and said My angel wifeWhatever torment or disqui etudeI may have suffered, you h ave never beenI ts cause or its occas ion . You are allYou have been a ll— th at womanhood can beTo manhood ’s want ; and i n your woman
’s loveAnd woman’s pain , I have found every goodMy l ife has known s i nce firs t our li ves were j oi ned .
JO S IAH G IL BERT HOL L AND
WEDDED
HE took i n both h ands her lovely h ead ,And looked i n her eyes serene,
Many years marri ed,but sti l l as fond
As th e fool ish boyhad been .
And O my dear,said h e, and my love,
My dear sweet love and my wife,I f every ki ss were a golden coi n ,You would be r i ch for l i fe .
Nay, i f of every ki ss I have givenEach were but a si ng le penny,You would be ri ch wi th r iches to SpareSweet wi fe
,th ink how many
,how many !
1 3 2
Yea , truly,”sh e sai d,
“ ye t I ’
d not barter oneWh i le I bi nd up my sheaves Of caresses ;
But there ’
s many, oh , many a poor ri ch w ifeWho would g ive al l of her gold for the kisses.
JAMES V . BL AKE
LOVE ’S THREAD OF GOLD .
INthe night sh e told a story,I n the n ight and al l night through ,
While the moon was i n her glory,And th e branches dropped with dew .
’T was my l ife she told, and round i tRose th e years as from a deep ;I n the wor ld ’s great heart She found i t,Cradled l ike a ch i ld as le ep .
I n the nigh t I saw her weavi ngBy the misty moonbeam cold,All th e weft her shuttle cle avi ngWith a sacred thread of gold .
Ah ! sh e wept me tears of sorrow,
Lull ing tears so mysti c sweet ;Then sh e wove my last to—morrow,
And her web lay at my feet .Of my li fe sh e made the storyI must weep —so soon ’
t was told !But you r name did lend i t g lory,And your love i ts thread of gold !
JEAN INGEL OW
I 3 3
FROM “ LAY OF THE LAST M IN STREL
N peace love tunes the shepherd ’s reed ;I n war h e mounts the warrior ’s ste ed
I n halls i n gay att i re is seen ;I n h amlets dances on the gree n .
Love rules the court,the camp
,th e grove
,
And men below,and saints above
For Love is heaven , and heaven i s Love .
S IR WAL TER SCOTT
LOVE AMONG THE RU INS
I .
HERE the qu iet-colored end of evening smilesM iles and m iles
On th e sol i tary pastures where our sheepH alf asleep
Ti nkle homeward th ro ’ th e twi l ight,stray or stop
As they crop
I I.
Was the S i t e once of a ci ty g reat and gay ,
! SO th ey say)Of our country’s very capi tal , its p rince
Ages si nceH eld h i s court i n , g athered counci ls, wield ing
Peace or war.
1 3 4
V II.
Now, th e s i ngl e l i ttl e turret that remai nsOn the pl ai ns ,
By the caper overrooted, by th e g ourdOverscored,
Whi le the patch i ng house leek ’s h ead of blossoms winksThrough the chi nks
V I I I .Marks the basement whence a tower in ancient time
Sprang subl ime,And a burn ing ri ng all round
,the chariots traced
As they raced,And the monarch and h i s m in ions and h is dames
Viewed the games .
IX .
And I know whi le thus the qu ie t-colored eveSmi les to leave
To th ei r folding,all our many- t inkl ing fleece
In such peace,And the slopes and th e ri lls i n undisti nguished gray
Mel t away
X .
That a girl with eager eyes and yellow hai rWaits me th ere
I n the turret,whence the ch arioteers caugh t soulFor th e goal ,
When the king looked , where She looks now, breath
le ss , dumbTill I come .
1 3 6
X I .
Bu t h e looked upon the C i ty, every side,Far and wide
,
mountai ns topped with temples , allColonnades
,
cau seys,br idg e s , aqueducts,
All the men
X II.
When I do come,she wi l l speak not, she wi ll stand ,
Ei ther handOn my shoulder
, g i ve h er eyes th e fi rs t embraceOf my face,
Ere we rush , ere we extingui sh sigh t and speechEach on each .
X II I .I n one year they sent a m i l l i on fighters forth
South and north,
And they buil t th e i r gods a brazen pi ll ar h ighAS th e sky,
Yet reserved a thousand chariots in full forceGold , of course .
XIV .
Oh , heart oh , blood that freezes, blood that bu rns !Earth ’s returns
For whole centur i es of folly,noi se
,and si n !
Shut them i n,
With thei r triumphs and thei r glori es and th e res t.Love i s best .
ROBERT BROWN INGl 3 7
FROM “ THE'
CHIL DREN OF THE LORD ’SSUPPER
I—OV E i s th e root of c reation ; God
’s e sse nce ;worlds wi thou t number
Lie i n h i s bosom l ike ch i ldren ; he made them forth i s purpose only .
Only to love and be loved agai n,he breath ed forth
h i s sp i ri t
I nto the S lumberi ng dust,and upright standi ng, i t
l aid i tsHand on i ts he art
,and felt i t was warm wi th a fl ame
out of heaven .
! uench , oh , quench not th at flame ! I t i s th e breathof your bei ng,
Love i s l i fe,but hatred i s d eath .
H ENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL L OW
EROSHE sense of th e world i s short
,
Long and various th e report,To love and be beloved
Men and gods have not ou tl earned i t ;And , how oft so
’er they ’
v e turned i t,’T will not be improved .
RAL PH WAL DO EMER SON
I‘HE gate of Heaven i s Love
,th ere i s none oth er.
LUCY LARCOM1 3 8
H e sa ng ou t of h is sou l wha t h efou nd th e re .
H e sa ng of l ove a nd L ife a nd S or row and D ea th ,
Of Knowledg e and of swe e t Ph ilosophyH e sang h ow L ove is m ig h t ie st of a ll th ese .
HENRY BERNARD CARPENTER
L ove is not to be r ea soned down or lost
I n h igh ambit ion , a nd a th irst of g r ea tn ess .
’T is se cond life , it g rows into th e sou l,
Wa rm s e v e ry v e in ,and bea ts in eve ry fiu lse .
! OSEPH ADD ISON
NEVER KNEW IT,LOVE
,T I LL NOW
Ine ’e r i mag i ned , Love , that thouW
'
ert su ch a m ighty one ; at wi l l ,Thou canst both fai th and consc ience bow,And thy d espot i c law fu lfi l ;I never knew it
,Love, ti ll now.
I thought I knew thee well, I thohgh tThat I thy mazes had explored ;Bu t I wi th i n thy nets am caugh t,And now I own the e sovere ig n lord .
I ne ’er imag in ed, Love, th at thouWe rt such a mighty on e ; at wi ll,Thou b id ’
st both fa i th and consci ence bow,And thy despoti c law fulfil ;I never knew it
,Love
,ti l l now.
Span ish of j u an K ing of Ca st ile
LOVE SCORNS DEGREES
LOVE scorns degrees the low h e li fteth high ,The high he draweth down to that fai r plai n
Whereon,i n h i s d ivi ne equal i ty
,
Two lov i ng h eart s may m ee t, nor meet i n vain’Gains t such sweet levelli ng Custom cri es ama i n ,But o ’er i ts harshest utterance one bland s igh ,Breathed pass ion-wise
,doth mount vi ctori ous sti l l,
For Love, earth’s lord must have h i s lordly wil l.
PAU L HAM IL TON HAYNEI 4 I
THE LAST LETTERONG years with i n i ts sepulchreOf fai ntly scented cedar
,
Has lai n th i s letter, dear to herWho was i ts constant reader ;The postmark on th e e nvelope
S u ffic e d th e dat e to give h er,And told the birth of pat ient hopeThat managed to outl ive h er .
How often to th i s tr easure-box,
Tears i n her eyes ’ soft fringes,
Sh e came with key and turned th e locks,And on its brazen h i ng esSwung back th e quai ntly figured l id
,
And rai sed a sandal cover,
Disclosing , under tri nkets h id ,This messag e from her lover .
Then l i fti ng i t as ’t were a ch i ld
Her h and awhile caressed i tEre to th e l ips th at sadly smi ledTime and agai n sh e pressed i t ;Then drew the sm all enclosure outAnd smoothed the wri nkled paper,Lest any l ine should leave a doubtOr any word es cape h er.
Sti l l h eld th e olden charm its placeAm id th e tender phrases .
Time seemed unwi ll ing to effaceThe love-pervaded p rai ses ;
1 42
ALL THE YEAR ROUND
GO , t ime and tide, go as you wi l lI cannot h eed your ways .
What care I for summer glow,
What care I for i ce and snowWhen love doth fi l l my days !
I nto i ts ark through wi nd and rainMy heart fl i es as th e dove ;Oh , rosy i s th e darkened dayAnd rosy is th e stormy wayThat l ead me to my Love .
How can I care i f l eaves be greenOr gray with early rime !
Love,rul i ng
,re ign ing i n th e sou l
With pure and passi onate control,Makes i ts own summer- time .
E L L EN MACKAY HUTCHINSON
LOVE AND LI FE
TH E way i s steep and hard to tread , and drear ;Pi ercing and bleak th e i cy atmosphere,
My feet are brui sed and bleeding, and my eyesCan only wi th dim qu esti onings s eek th e sk ies .
How could I walk a step without th ine aid !
How face th e awful s i lence unafraid !How bear th e star-rays and th e moon glance cold !
Loose not th i ne hold !
l ei /1,
Earth and its ki ndly ways s eem ve ry far,
And yet th e sh in ing ski es no nearer areExcept for thee
,dear Love , I could not go
Over the h ard rocks,the untrodden snow
,
But had sa t down content with lower th i ng s ,With scanty crumbs and waning water-spri ngs,A w inged th ing, whose wing s might not unfold .
Loose not th i ne hold !
Loose not th in e hold ! le t me fee l al l the wh i l eThe qui cken ing impulse Of thy tender smi l eLuri ng me on , and catch , as i f in trance ,The lovely reverence of thy downward glance
,
The pity and th e splendor of thy face,The recogni ti on l ike a soft embrace,Until my fee t Sh all tread the stre ets of gold.
Loose not thy hold !SARAH WOOL SEY
! SU SAN COOL IDGE)
THE HEART ’S CALL
HE rides away at early ligh t,Amid th e ti ngling frost,
And in th e mis t that sweeps h er sightH is form is quickly lost .
He crosses now th e s i lent stream ,
Now Sk irts the forest drea r,Whos e th i ckets cas t a s i lve r gleamFrom leafag e th i n and sear.
145
Long falls the shadow at h i s back
!The morning Spri ngs before) ;His thoughts fly down th e Sh adow’
d trackAnd haunt h is cottage door .
Mi les gone, upon the h i l ltop bareH e draws a sudden rei n ;His name
,her vo i ce, ri ngs on th e ai r ,
Then all i s sti l l again !
Sh e si ts at home , sh e speaks no word ,But deeply calls her heart ;
And thi s i t i s that h e has heard,
Though they are mi les apart .
ED ITH M . THOMAS
MY JEAN
HOUGH cruel fate should bi d us part,
Far as th e pole and li ne ,Her dear i dea round my heartShould tenderly entwine .
Though mountains ris e , and deserts howl ,And oceans roar between ,Yet , dearer than my deathless soul ,I sti l l would love my Jean .
ROBERT BURNS1 46
EDITH .
Ay, but take back thy r i ng .
I t burns my h and - a curse to thee and me .
I dare not wear i t .
HAROL D .
But I dare . God with th ee !
ED ITH.
The Ki ng hath cursed h im,i f h e marry me ;
The Pope h ath cursed h im , marry me or no !God h elp me ! I know noth ing can bu t prayFor H arold pray, pray, pray no help but prayer ,A breath that fleets beyond thi s i ron world,And touches Him that made i t.
AL FRED TENNYSON
AH, Love ! l et us be trueTo one anoth er ; for th e world , wh ich seems
To l ie before”us l ike a land of dreams,So various
,so beauti ful , so new,
Hath real ly ne i the r joy,nor love , nor light,
Nor certi tude,nor peace
,nor h elp for pai n ;
And we are here as on a darkl ing plai n ,Swept with confused alarms of strugg l e and fl ightWhere ignorant arm i es clash by n igh t .
MATTHEW ARNOL D
1 48
FROM EVANGELI NE
ALF—WAY down to th e shore Evang e l ine wa i tedi n si lence ,
Not overcome w i th gri ef,but strong i n the hour of
affl i ction ,Calmly and sadly sh e wai ted
,unt i l th e process ion
approached he r,
And sh e beh eld the face of Gabr i el pale wi th emotion .
Tears then fi l led h er eyes,and , eag erly runn i ng to
meet h im ,
Clasped sh e h i s hands,and l aid her head on his
Shoulder, and wh ispered ,Gabri e l ! be of good ch eer ! for If we love one
anoth er,Nothi ng , i n truth , can h arm us , whatever m i schances
may happen !
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL L OW
LOVE ’S F I NAL POWERS
HERE are strong powers of love th at early yearsKnow l i ttle of . All added force of be ing
G ives love new, deepe r, tenderer eyes for seeing ,And love w ins sweetness from a li fetime ’s tears .
All pang s and hopes and joys and trembli ng fearsAdd streng th to love . As l ife
’s black darkness grows .
Love ’s firmer step through that murk darkness goes,And dauntless over th e grave ’s bri nk Love peers .
1 49
The r e are strang e powers of love that youthfu l daysKnow l i ttl e of . There i s a love bes ideWhose streng th the passion of the ocean wide
I s l ike th e ripples wh i spering i n blue bays !A love bes ide whose strength death ’s fingers wildAre weak as pi nk soft fingers of a ch i ld .
GEORGE BARL OW
FROM ARTEVELDE
ADRIANA .
NAY, sai d I notAnd i f I said i t not, I say i t now !
I ’ll fol low thee through sunsh i ne and th rough storm,
I wil l be wi th thee i n thy wea l and woe,
I n thy affl i ct i ons, should th ey fa l l upon th ee ;I n thy temptati ons
,when bad men beset thee,
And should they crush thee,i n th e hour of death ,
Let but thy love be wi th me to the last .
ARTEVEL DE .
My love i s wi th thee ever ; that thou knowest .
HENRY TAYL OR
CANNOT tel l th e spell that b inds th i ne imageForever i n my heart ;
I only know thou art to my ex i stenceI ts very, vi tal part .
ANN IE CHAMBERS-KETCHUM1 50
Toof u ll of love my sou l is tofi nd placeForfear or a ng e r
E DW IN ARNOL D
I do not lov e th ee le ssf or wha t is don e
And ea nnot be u ndone . Thy v ery weah ne ss
H a th broug h t th e e ne a r e r to m e , a nd h encef or th
My lov e will h av e a se nse of b ity in it
M a h i'
ng it le ss a worsh ip th a n bef or e .
HENRY WADSWORTH L ONGFE L L OW
TWO TRUTHS
ARLI NG,he said , “ I never meant
To hurt you ; and h i s eye s were wet.
I would not hurt you for th e world ;Am I to blame if I forget ! ”
Forg i ve my selfish tears sh e cried,Forg ive I knew that i t was not
Becau se you meant to hurt me, sweet,I knew i t was that you forgot ! ”
But all th e same,deep i n her h eart
Rankl ed th i s thought,and rankl es yet,
Wh en love i s at i ts best, one lovesSo much that h e cannot forget.”
HEL EN HUNT JACKSON
AT NOON AND M IDN I GHT
FAR in th e n igh t, yet no res t for h im ! The pi l low
next h is ownThe wife ’s sweet face i n slumber pressed—yet he
awake,alone ! alone !
I n vai n he courted sleep ; one though t would ever i nh i s heart ari se
,
The harsh words th at at noon had brough t the tear .
drops to her eyes .
S lowly on l i fted arm he rai sed and l iste ned . All wasstil l as death .
He touch ed her forehead as h e gazed , and l i stenedyet, wi th bated breath ,
S ti ll s i lently as though h e prayed, h is l ip s movedlightly as sh e slept
For God was wi th h im,and he lai d h is face wi th h ers
and wept .
JAMES WH ITCOMB R I L EY
OUR OWN
IFI h ad known i n the morning,How weari ly all th e day
The words unki nd would trouble my mindThat I sa id wh en you went away,I had been more careful
,darl i ng
,
Nor g iven you needless pai n ;But we vex our own wi th look and toneWe migh t never take back agai n .
For though i n the qui e t eveni ngYou may g ive m e the k iss of peace,
Yet i t well might be that never for meThe pa in Of th e h eart should cease !
How m any go forth i n the morni ngWho never come home at night,And hearts have been broken for harsh Words
spokenThat sorrow can ne ’er se t righ t .
1 54
I did not,do not
,cannot mean i t , Dear !
Come l i fe or death,j oy
, g r ief, or hope or fear,I bless you where I stand !
I ble ss you where I stand excusi ng you ,No speech nor languag e for accusing you
My laggard lips can learn .
To you—b e what you are, or can , to meTo you or blessedly or fatefully
My heart must turn
EL IZ ABETH STUART PHEL PS
WE KISS’D AGAIN W ITH TEARS
S th ro ’ th e land at eve we went
And plu ck’
d th e rip e n’d ears ,
We fell out, my wi fe and I ,Oh
,we fel l out
,I know not why,
And kiss ’d agai n wi th tears .
For when we came Where l i es th e ch i ldWe lost i n other years,There above th e l ittle g rave,Oh
,th ere above the l i ttl e grave ,We kiss ’d agai n with tears .
AL FRED TENNYSON
I 56
FORGIVEN
IDREAMED so dear a dream of you l ast night !I though t you came . I was so glad, so gay,
I wh ispered,
“ Those were fooli sh words to say ;I meant them not . I cannot bear the sightO f your dear face . I cannot meet the l ightOf your dear eyes upon me . S i t, I pray,S i t here bes ide me ; tu rn your look away,And lay your cheek on mine .
” Til l morn ing brightWe sa t SO, and we did not speak . I knewAll was forg i ve n ; so I ne stled thereW i th your arms round . Swift the sweet hours flew .
At last I waked , and sough t you everywhere .
How long, dear, thi nk you , that my g lad Cheek willBurn , as i t burns with your cheek ’s pressure sti l l !
HEL EN H UNT JACKSON
T is n ’t th e th ing you do,dear
,
I t ’s th e thing you leave undone,Which gi ves you a bi t of a heart-ach eAt t h e setti ng Of th e su n .
The tender word forgotten,
The le tter you did not wri te,The flower you m ight have sent , dear,Are your haunting ghosts to-nigh t.
MARGARET EL IZ ABETH SANGSTERI S7
ER fi ttest tri umph is to show th at goodLurks i n the h eart of evil evermore ;
That love , though scorned and outcast and wi thstood,Can without end forgive
,and yet have store .
JAMES RU S SEL L LOWEL L
1 58
Not to be with y ou , not to se e y ou rface ,A la sf or m e th en , my g ood day s a r e done .
A L FRED TE NNYSON
0 f r ie nd 0 be st of Thy abse nce more
Th an th e impending n igh t darh ens th e landscape o’
e r
HENRY WADSWORTH L ONGFEL L OW
GONE
S i t the shrewd October windBrings the tears i nto her eyes !
Does i t blow so s trong that sh e must fetchHer breath i n sudden sigh s !
The sound of h is horse ’s feet grows fa int ,The R ider has passed from s ight ;The day g l ides o u t of the cr imson west,And coldly falls the n ight .
She presses h er tremu lous fingers t ightAgainst her closed eyes ,And on the lonesome th reshold there ,She cowers down and c r i es .
WIL L IAM DEAN HOWEL L S
FROM “M I CHAEL ANGELO
NOW that sh e i s gone,Rome i s no long er Rome ti l l She return .
This feel ing overmasters me . I know not
I f i t be love , th i s strong desi re to beForever i n her presence ; but I knowTh at I who was th e fr i end of sol i tud e ,And ever was best pl eased when most alone
,
Now weary g row of my own company .
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFE L L OW
IOI
ABSENCE
WHAT shall I do wi th al l th e days and hours
That must be counted ere I see thy face !How shall I ch arm the i nterval th at lowersBetwee n thi s t ime , and that swee t time of grace !
Shal l I i n s lumber steep each weary sense,
Weary with long i ng ! Shall I flee awayI nto past days, and wi th some fond pretenceCheat myself to forget th e present day !
Shall love for the e lay on my soul the sinOf casting from me God ’ s great gi ft of t ime !Shal l I
, these mi sts of memory locked wi th i n ,Leave and forget l ife ’s purposes sublime !
Oh , how, or by what means , may I contri veTo bri ng the hour that bri ngs thee back more near !How may I te ach my droop ing hope to l i veUnti l that bl essed time
,and thou art here !
I ’ll tell th ee , for thy sak e I wi ll lay hold‘
Of all good a ims,and consecrate to th ee
I n worthy deeds each moment that is told ,Whi le thou
,beloved one ! art far from me .
For th ee I wil l arouse my thoughts to tryAll h eavenward fl ights
,al l h igh and holy strai ns .
For thy dear sake I wi ll walk pat i entlyThrough th ese long hours, nor call thei r mi nutes
pa i ns .1 62
THE LOVED ONE EVER NEAR
TH I NK of thee,when the bright sunl ight shimmers
A c ross th e se a ;When th e clear founta in in the moonbeam g l immers
I th ink Of th ee .
I see th ee,i f far up the pathway yonderTh e dust be sti rred ;
I f fai nt steps o ’er th e l ittle bri dg e to wanderAt nigh t be h eard .
I h ear the e when the toss ing wave ’s low rumbl i ngCreeps up th e h i l l ;
I go to th e lone wood and l i sten , trembli ng,When all i s sti ll .
I am with thee wherever thou art roaming,
And thou art nearTh e sun goes down , and soon th e stars are coming ;
Would thou wert h ere !
! . S . DW IGHTF rom th e Ge rman of Goe th e
UT oh ! ’
t was hard to have h im go, to knowDay after day must pass wi thout one S igh t
Of h im who was so cl ear, so dea r ! to pi n e,And sigh , and long for one hand-clasp ; one soundOf th at soft
,pleasant vo i ce
,to m e so swe e t ;
One g lance of those dear eyes I loved to meet .
CEL IA E . GARD INER1 64
AMONG THE HEATHER
INTRY winds are blowi ng coldOn th e moors of pu rple heather
,
Where i n summer days of OldHand i n hand we idly stro l led,Thou and I together .Bu t those sunny days are past ,And no more we wa lk tog etherWhere the snow
,on every blast,
Whirls above the heath er.
On the dreary moo rland nowI n the storm I wander, lonely,Long i ng love a lone knows howFor thy ki ss on l ips and brow,
Long i ng for thee onlyLife can bring me naugh t but pa inTi l l among th e purple heatherH and i n h and we walk agai n
,
Thou and I together !GEORGE ARNOL D
THEY PARTED
HEY parted if i t be to partS t i l l to l ive i n each other ’s heart,
Forever one de ar face behold,
Forever one cle ar form enfold,
One voi ce forever seem to hear.
JAMES ROB INSON PL ANCHE1 65
GOOD—BY, SWEETHEART
GOOD -BY, Sweethe art .
I le ave thee wi th al l loveli es t th i ngsTh e beauty-burden ed Spr ingtime brings
,
The anemone i n snowy hood,
The sweet arbutus i n the wood .
And to the smi l i ng Ski e s aboveI say,
“ Bend ligh tly o ’er my love .And to the perfume-breath ing bree zeI S igh , “ S i ng softest symphoni es .
”
O lute-l ike l eaves of laden trees,
Bear al l your sweet refrain to h im,
While i n th e June-t ime twiligh ts dimHe th inks of me as I of h im .
And so Good-by, Sweetheart !
Good-by, Sweetheart .I l eave thee wi th all purest th i ng s,That wh en some fai r temptation S i ngsI ts luring song, though sore beset,Thou ’lt s trong er be ; then no regr etLi fe—long wil l fol low after thee .With touches l ighter th an th e a irI kiss thy forehead brave and fai r,And say to God th is last deep prayer,Oh
,guard h im always night and day,
So from Thy peace he sh al l not stray.
”
And so Good-by, Sweeth eart.
1 66
PART ING WORDS
GOD—BY, 0 love, once more I hold your h and ;Good-by, for now th e wi nd blows loud and long ,
The ship is ready , and the waves are strongTo bear me far away from th is thy strand .
I know th e s e a that I shal l cross,and land
Whereto I journey, and the forms th at th rongIts palaces and shri nes ; I know the songThat th ey alone can Sing and understand .
But promi se me, 0 love , before I goThat sometimes , when the su n and W ind are low,You
,walki ng i n the old famil iar ways,
Throng ed with gray phantoms of the buri ed days,Will
,looki ng seaward , say, I wonder now
How fares i t wi th h im in the di stant place .
PH IL IP BOURKE MARSTON
WORDS FOR PART ING
H , what sh all I do , dear,I n th e coming years , I wonder,
When our paths wh i ch l i e so sweetly near,Shall l i e so far asunder !Oh
,what shal l I do , dear,Through all the sad to-morrows ,When the sunny sm i le has ceased to ch eerThat sm i l es away my sorrows !
1 68
What shal l I do,my fri end
,
When you are g one forever !
My heart i ts eag er need wil l sendThrough th e years, to find you never .And how wi ll i t be with you
,
I n th e weary world , I wonder!Will you love me wi th a love as true ,When our paths l ie far asunder !
A sweeter , sadder thing ,My li fe for having known youForever with my sacred kin ,My soul ’s soul I must own you ,Forever mine , my friend ,From June to l ife ’s December,Not m ine to have or hold ,But to pray for and remember .
The way i s short, 0 fr i end ,
That reaches out before us .
God ’s tender heavens above u s bend ,His love i s sm i l ing o ’er u s.
A li ttl e whi le i s ours,
For sorrow or for laughterI ’ll l ay th e h and you love i n yours
,
On the shore of th e hereafter .
MARY CL EMMER
I69
Th ith er wh e r e h e lie s bu r ied !
Tha t sing le spot is th e whole ea r th to m e .
SAMUE L TAYL OR COL ER IDGE
wild-wr u ng hands h u sh , sobbing br ea th
L ove ke epe th its own th roug h life and de a th .
D INAH MAR IA MU L OCH-CRA IK
THE“
WEDD ING VE I L
EAR Anna,when I brough t her vei l
,
Her white vei l on her weddi ng nigh t,
Threw o ’er my th i n brown hai r its folds ,And laughing , turned me to the l igh t.
S ee, Bessi e, se e ! you wear at l astThe bri dal vei l foresworn for years ! ”
She saw my face, her l augh was hushed,
Her h appy eyes were fi lled wi th tears .
With kindly h aste and trembl ing handShe drew away the g auzy mist ;Forgive
,dear h eart ! her sweet voi ce said
Her loving l i ps my forehead ki ssed .
We passed from ou t th e search ing l igh t,
The summer n ight was calm and fai rI di d not se e her pi tying eyes,I felt h er soft hand smooth my hai r .
He r tender love unlocked my heart’Mid fall ing tears at last I said ,Fore sworn, i ndeed , to me that ve i lBecause I only love th e dead
She stood one moment statue-sti l l,And musi ng spake i n undertone ,The l iv i ng love may colder grow ;The dead i s safe wi th God alone .
EL IZABETH WH ITT IERI 73
S COTCH HEATHER
UST a Sprig of S cottish heather,i n a letter where
th e te ar s ,Which have blo tted words together, have been dried
these many years .
Loving l ines,yet sadly cheerful
,how ’
t was lonesome here tod ay,
”
Then a pause, a l i ttle tearful,“ Dear, you are so far
away ! ”
Every sentence has its token of a love th at could notfai l
Throbbing wi th a faith unspoken , though th e ink i sgrowing pale ;
Faded are the l i nes dim-l e ttered l ike sad ghosts uponthe page ;
Ah , that poor love should be fe ttered wi th th e rustyiron of age !
Then that l i ne , I pi cked the heather from that spot,dear, you w i l l know,
Where we walked and talked toge ther—oh , i t seemsso long ago !
And at las t, “ Love , how much better i t wi l l be when,by and by,
We ’ ll not need to wr ite a l etter to each other, youand I ! ”
God ! with what another meaning that one li n e ha slong been true ,
With Death ’s s il ence i nterven i ng si nce I las t h aveheard from you
,
1 74
Yet oft I dream , that once a wi feClose i n my h eart was locked
,
And in the sweet repose of l i feA blessed chi ld I rocked .
I wake ! Away th at dreamToo long did i t rema i n !So long , th at both by nigh t and dayI t ever comes agai n .
The end lies ever in my though tTo a grave so cold and deep
The mother beautiful was brought ;Then dropt th e ch i ld asleep .
But now the dream is wholly o ’e r,
I bath e mi ne eyes and se e ;And wander throug h th e world once more,A youth so l ight and free .
Two locks and they are wondrou s fai rLeft me that vis ion m ild ;
The brown i s from the moth er ’s hai r,
The blond is from the chi ld .
And when I see th at lock of gold ,Pale grows th e eveni ng red ;
And when th e dark lock I behold,I wish th at I were dead .
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL L OW ‘
F rom th e Ge rma n of Pfi z e r
1 76
A SHADOW
WHAT lack th e valleys and th e mountai nsThat once were g reen and gay !
What lack the babbling founta ins !Their vo i ce i s sad to-day .
Only the sound of a voice,Tender and sweet and low
,
Tha t made th e earth rej oiceA year ago !
What lack th e tender flowers !A shadow i s on the su n .
What lack the merry hours ,That I long th at they were done !Only two smil i ng eyes,That told of joy and mirth ;They are sh ining i n the ski es ;
I mourn on earth !
What lacks my heart th at makes itSo weary and ful l of pain,
That trembling Hope forsakes i t,Never to come again !Only another h eart,Tender and al l mi ne own ;I n th e sti ll g rave i t li es ;I weep alone .
ADEL A IDE ANNE PROCTER
I 77
RONDEL
UT of the past remembered eyesPursue and hold me fast ;
Thei r dark pure splendor never di esOut of the past .
S ave th e young light th at in them l ies,Time al l th ings fai r doth blast,And sti l l unrest ing onward fl i esBut darkly though l ife ’s evening skiesThei r gathering shadows cast,Love-l ight for me Shal l ever ri se
Out of th e past .
MAXWEL L GRAY
1 78
Th inh not in de a th my love cou ld e ve r cease ;
If th ou wastfa lse , mor e ne ed th e re isf or m e
S t ill to be t r u e .
! AM ES RUSSEL L LOWEL L
Th e r e is h ofie th a t is nev e r p u t by ,
Th e re is love tha t r efu ses to die .
L UCY L ARCOM
THE UNWISE CHO I CE
WO young men,when I was poor
,
Came and stood at my open door ;
One said to me,I have gold to g i ve ;
And one,
“ I wi ll l ove you while I l i ve !”
My sight was dazzled , woe’s the day !
And I sent th e poor young man away,
Sent h im away,I know not where
,
And my heart went wi th h im,unaware.
H e d id not give me any sighs,But h e left h is pi cture in my eyes ;
And in my eyes i t has always beenI have no heart to keep i t i n !
Beside th e lane wi th h edg es sweet,Wh ere we parted , nevermore to meet,
He pul led a flower of love ’s own hue,And wh ere i t h ad been came out two !
And in th ’
g rass where h e stood, for years,The dews of th ’ morni ng looked l ike tears .
Sti ll smi les the house wh ere I was bo rnAmong its fields of wheat and com ,
1 8 1
Wh eat and corn th at strang ers bi ndI reap as I sowed
,and I sowed to t h ’ wind .
AS one who feels th e truth break throughH i s dream , and knows h i s dream untrue ,
I l ive where splendors sh ine,and sigh
For a peace that Splendor cannot buy,
Sigh for th e day I was ri ch tho’ poor,
And saw th’ two young m en at my door !
A L ICE CARY
A WOMAN ’S DEATH -WOUND
T left upon her tender flesh no trace .
Th e murderer i s safe . As swift as lightThe weapon fell
,and
,in the summe r n igh t,
D id scarce the silen t , dewy ai r displace ;’T was but a word . A blow h ad been less base.Like dumb beast branded by an i ron wh iteWith heat
, sh e tu rned i n bli nd and h elpless fl ight ;But then remembered, and with p i teous faceCame back .
S ince then the world h as noth ing mi ssedI n her
,i n voi ce or smi l e. But sh e each day
She counts unti l h er dyi ng be compl ete .One moan sh e makes, and ever doth repeat
0 l ips that I h ave loved and ki ssed and ki ssed,Did I deserve to d i e th i s bi tterest way ! ”
HEL EN HUNT JACKSON1 82
Showing no S ig n to h im ,
By look of m ine to h im,
What h e has been to me,How my heart turns to h i m ,
Follows h im,yearns to h i m ,
Prays h im to love m e,
Pi ty me , lean to me,Thou God above m e !
RICHARD WATSON G IL DER
BURNT SH I PS
LOVE , sweet Love , who came wi th rosy sai lAnd foaming prow across the mi sty se a !
0 Love , brave Love, whose fai th was ful l and freeThat lands of su n and gold, wh i ch could not fai l ,Lay i n the west
,that bloom no wintry gale
Could bl ight , and eyes whose love th ine ownShould be
,
Call ed thee , with steadfast voi ce of prophecy,To shores unknown !
0 Love, poor Love, avai lThee noth i ng now thy fa i th s
,thy braveries ;
There i s no su n , no bloom ; a cold wi nd str ipsThe bi tter foam from off th e wave where d ipsNo more thy prow ; th e eyes are hosti l e eyes ;The gold i s h idden ; va i n thy tears and cri es .
0 Love , poor Love , why d Idst thou burn thy sh ips !
HEL EN HUNT JACKSON
PRESAGE
IF ,some day, I shou ld seek those eyesSo g en t le now, and find th e strange
,
P ale shadow of a coming ch ange,
To ch i l l me w i th sad surprise
Shoulds t thou recall what thou hast gi ven,And turn me slowly cold and dumb
,
And thou thyself ag ai n becomeRemote as any star in heaven
,
Would the sky ever seem againP erfectly clear ! Would th e serene
,
Sweet face of Nature ste al betweenTh i s gri ef and me
,to dul l its pai n !
Oh,not for many a weary dayWould sorrow soften to regret ;And many a su n wou ld ri se and s e tEre I
,wi th cheerful heart, cou ld say
All undeserved i t came . TO-dayGod takes i t back agai n , becauseToo beau tiful a th ing i t wasFor such as I to keep for aye .
And ever, through the comi ng years ,My star remote i n happy ski esWould seem more heavenly fai r th rough eyesYet tremulous w i th unfall en tears .
CEL IA THAXTER1 85
Pe rhaps it will a ll com e r igh t a t lastI t may be , wh en a ll is don e ,
We sh a ll be tog e th e r in some g ood wor ld
to wish and to h av e a r e on e .
R ICHARD HENRY STODDARD
A L IFE LES SON
HERE , l i ttle g i rl, don’t cry !
They have broken your doll , I know ;And your tea-s e t blue ,And your play-house , too,
Are th i ngs Of th e long ago ;
But ch i ld ish troubl es wi ll soon pass byThere
,l i ttl e g i rl, don
’t cry !
There,l i ttl e gi rl , don
’t cry !They have broken your slate, I know ;And th e glad , wi ld waysOf your school-gi rl days
Are th ing s of th e long ago ;But life and love wi ll soon come byThere
,l i ttl e girl , don
’t cry !
There , l i ttle girl , don’t cry
They h ave broken your heart,I know ;
And the rai nbow g le aOf your youthful dream s
Ar e th ings of the long ago ;But heaven holds all for wh ich you sighThere
,li ttl e g i rl , don
’t cry !
JAMES WH ITCOMB RIL EY
1 81)
I CANNOT TH I NK BUT GOD MUST KNOW
CANNOT th ink but God must knowAbout the th ing I long for so ;
I know He i s SO good, so k ind,I c annot th ink but H e wil l findSome way to h elp, some way to ShowM e to th e th ing I long for so .
I stretch my hand —it l i e s so near ;I t l ooks so sweet ; i t looks so dear.
D ear Lord ,” I pray,
“ oh , let me knowI f i t is wrong to want i t soHe only smi les He does not speak ;My heart grows weaker and more weakWith look ing at the th ing so dear,Which l i es so far and ye t SO near.
Now, Lord , I leave at Thy loved feetTh i s th i ng whi ch looks so near, so sweet ;I wi l l not seek
,I wil l not long,
I almost fear I have been wrong.
I ’
11 go and work th e harder,Lord,
And wait ti l l by some loud, clear wordThou callest me to Thy loved feetTo take th i s th ing so de ar
,so sweet .
SAXE HOL M
1 90
FROM EVANCELINE
OMETIMES She spake with those who had seenher beloved and known h im ,
But it was long ago i n some far-off place or forgotten .
Then would th ey say,“ Dear ch i ld ! why dream and
wai t for h im longer !Are th ere not other youths as fa i r as Gabr iel ! othersWho h ave h earts as tender and true
,and spi ri ts as
loyal !Here i s Bapti ste Leblanc
,th e notary ’s son, who has
loved th eeMany a tedious year ; come , g ive h im thy hand and be
h appy
Thou art too fai r to be l eft to braid Saint Catheri ne ’stre sses .”
Then wou ld Evangel ine answer,serenely but sadly,
“ I cannot !Whither my heart has gone there follows my hand, and
not elsewh ere .For when th e heart goes before , l ike a lamp , and
i llumi nes the pathway,M any th ings are made clear
,that else l i e h idden in
darkness .”
Th ereupon the priest,her friend and father-confessor,
Said,with a sm i le
,
“ O daughter ! thy God th u sspeaketh with i n thee
Talk not of wasted affec tion, affection never was
wasted ;
1 92
I f i t enri ch not the heart of anothe r,i ts waters
,re tu rn
ing
Back to the i r spri ng s, l ike the ra in , Shal l fil l th em fu l lof re freshment ;
That wh ich the founta i n sends forth returns aga i n tothe foun ta i n .
Pat i ence accompl i sh thy labor, accompl ish thy wo rkof affe ct ion
Sorrow and Si lence are strong , and pati en t endurancei s godl ike ,
Therefore accompli sh thy labor of love, ti ll th e h ea rti s made godl ike .
Purified,strengt hened , perfected , and rendered more
worthy of heaven !Cheered by the good man
’ s wo rds,Evange l i ne labored
and wai ted .
St i l l i n h er h eart sh e h eard the funeral d i rg e of theocean,
But w ith i ts sound there was ming l ed a vo ice that
wh ispered , Despa i r not !!
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL L OW
WH ICH I S BEST !
HAT i f I saved from trampl ing fe e tThe droop ing plumes of a wo unded
And tended i ts h ur t w ith a g entle handT i l l i ts l ife n ew st i rred !
I 3 I93
What if i t nestled ag ai nst my ch eek ,And tamed i ts shyness upon my breast,
Unti l I beli eved that i t loved me moreThan its Old- t ime nest !
And i f some day,when I pri zed i t most,
I t shou l d le ave my hand wi th a sudden Spring,And Cl eave th e blu e of a summer skyWith a e sh e ne d wi ng,
And never pause at my plead ing call,Never come back to my de solate breast,
And forg e t I had saved its l i fe , and forgetI h ad loved i t best,
Should I never Open my arms aga i nTo any h elpless or suffer ing th ing !
Never bind up th e b ru iséd heart
Nor th e broken wing !
B ette r a thousand time s , to bearA blow i n the place of an earned caress,Than to t urn as ide into se lfish ways ,O r to p i ty le ss .
Better the long abidi ng pa i nOf a wronged love
,i n i ts sufferan ce meek ,
Th an the h ardened heart and the bi tter tongueAnd the sullen cheek .
LAURA C . REDDEN
l 94
I HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE GAY
IHAVE the courag e to be gay ,Although Sh e l i eth lapped away
Under the da i s i es,for I say,
Thou wouldst be glad if thou couldst se eMy constant though t makes manifes tI have not what I love th e best
,
Bu t I must thank God for th e res tWh i le I hold h eaven a veri ty .
”
JEAN INGEL OW
WHAT SE ! UEL !
O F Love that never found its earthly end ,What-seque l streaming eyes and broken h earts !And al l the same as if i t had not been !
AL FRED TENNY SON
AUGHT is the same as i f Love had not beenWhere i t hath shone i t i s l ike sunl ight poured
On seeds wh ich S lept , surpris ing naked soi lI nto new verdure, and an unhoped spring .
EDW IN ARNOL D
L ove is com e with a song a nd a sm ile ,
We lcom e L ov e with a sm i le and a
L ov e can stay bu t a l it t le wh ile ,
Why cannot h e s tay Th ey ca ll h im away ,
Ye do h im wrong , y e do h im wrong ;
L ov e wi ll stay f or a whole
A L FRED TENNYSON
Happ i e r yet these garden walks ;C loser
,heart to heart
,th ey lean !
S t i ll er,softe r
,falls the l igh t ;
Few the twos , and far between ,
T i l l a t last as on th ey passDown th e paths SO wel l they know,Once agai n at h idden gatesS ta nd the two ; th ey enter slow .
Golden gates of Fi fty Years ,M ay our two your l atchet press
Garden of the Sunset Land,
Hold th e i r dearest happi ness !
Then a qui et walk aga i n ;Then a wicket i n the wall !
Then one stepping on alone,
Then two at th e Heart of Al l !
W . C . GANNETT
SHE was sent forthT0 bri ng that ligh t wh ich never wi ntry bl astBlows out
,nor rain , nor snow, exti ngui sh es,
The l ight wh ich sh i n e s wi th lovi ng eyes uponEyes that love back, t i ll th ey can se e no more .
LET IT IA E L IZABETH LANDONz oo
SONG
OVE i s not a feel i ng to pass away,Like the balmy breath of a summer-day ;
I t i s not i t cannot be laid aside ;I t i s not a th ing to forget or h ide .
I t cl ing s to the heart, ah , woe i s me !As the ivy cl ings to th e old oak tree.
Love i s not a pass ion of earthly mould ,As a th i rst for honor, or fame, or goldFor wh en al l th ese wishes have died away,The deep strong love of a brighter day,Though nouri shed i n secret, consumes the more,As th e S low rust eats to th e i ron ’s core .
CHARL ES D ICKENS
TOGETHER
THEY were young and glad togetherI n th e dawn of l ife ’s first M ay
,
Wh en i n bright and sunny weath erSang th e birds from every spray.
Clear th e heaven shone out above them ;Blue and radi ant were the sk ies
All th ings living seemed to love them ;And the Spring gleamed i n her eyes .
2 0 1
Through l ife ’s summer sti ll together,
Hand i n hand and heart to heart,
They have borne the sultry weatherAnd have watched the days depart .Stil l sh e i s to h im the ma i denWho stepped dai nti ly Of OldThrough the grass, h er apron ladenWith bright buttercups of gold .
S ti ll together,sti ll tog ether,
Th ey wi ll face l i fe ’s autumn hours ;I n th e g r im November weath erLove w i ll s trew the i r path wi th flowers .For the i r love h as ever brightenedS ince th e first long loving day,
And th e i r happ iness h as heigh tenedThough th e i r hai r i s growing gray !
GEORGE BARL OW
FROM ENOCH ARDEN
OMAN,d isturb me not now at the las t
,
Bu t l e t m e hold my purpose ti l l I di e,
S i t down again ; mark me and understand,Wh i le I h ave power to speak . I charge you nowWhen you shal l s e e her tel l h er that I d i edB less ing h er , pray ing for her, lovmg herS ave for the bar between us
,lov ing h er
As when sh e l aid her head beside my own .
AL FRED TENNYSON2 0 2
0 winds y e a r e too r oug h , too roug h
0 spr ing ! th ou a r t not long e noug h
For swe e tn e ss ; and f or th e e ,0 love th ou s t ill m u st ov e rpassTim e
’s low a nd da rh and nar row
And fi llA L ICE CARY
FROM “ THE S I NGER
S I LENT land to wh i ch we move,
Enoug h i f th ere alone be love ;And mortal need can ne ’er outg rowWhat it i s wa i ting to bestow !
0 wh ite soul ! from th at far-Off shoreF loat some swe e t
'
song th e waters o’er ;
Our fai th confirm , our fears di spel,With th e Old voice we loved so well !
JOHN GREENL EAF WH ITT IER
FROM “ SNOW BOUND
ET love wil l dream and fa i th w i l l trus t
! Si nce H e who knows our need i s just) ,That somehow, somewh ere meet we must .Alas for h im who never se esThe stars sh ine through h is cypress trees !Who hopeless lays h is dead away ,Nor looks to se e the breaking dayAcross the mournful marbles playWho hath not learned i n hours of fa i th
,
The truth to fl esh and sense unknown,
That Life is ever lord of DeathAnd Love can never lose its own !
JOHN GREEN L EAF WH ITT IER2 0 8
THREE MEETI NGS
THE happy meeting from over the se a ,When I love my fri end and my friend loves me
!
And we stand face to face, and for letters readThere are endless words to be h eard and sai dWith a glance between whi les
, shy, anxi ous,strang e ,
As i f aski ng,“ S ay now is there any chang e !
”
Ti l l we settl e down j ust as we used to be,For I love my friend and my fri end loves me .
O the blessed meeting of lovers trueAgai ns t whom Fate h as done all that Fate couldAnd th en dropped vanquished while ove r thoseDead weeks , mon ths, years, of part ing and pai n,Hope lifts her banne r
, gay, gallant, and fair,Unta i nted
,untorn i n the balmy air !
And the heaven of th e future, golden and brigh t,
Arches above th em God guards the right .
But O for the meeting to come one day ,When the spi r i t Sl ips out of i ts house of clay ;\Vhen the standers -by with a gentle SignShall kindly cover th i s face of min e ,And I leap—wh i ther ah , who can knowBut outward, onward , as spi ri ts must go ,
T i l l eye to eye w i thout fear I s e eGod and my lost as th ey s e e me .
D INAH MARIA MUL OCH- CRAIK2 09
LOVE I S ETERNAL
OVE i s e ternal , so the strong sou ls say ,But seei ng how hard li fe doth g ive th e l ie
Unto th e mighty words, with sneer or s igh ,The weaker ones cry out i n sad di smayThat love i s ch ang e ful as an Apri l day,Hold ing wi th i n i tsel f no strength wherebyI t can th e subtle shafts of time defy
,
And in the heart of man abide alway .
Not every heart i s great enough to holdA great immortal tenant . Love h ath fledAlways from natures narrow, we ak, and cold .
Know , wh en by scornfu l l ips you hear i t sa i dThat Love is trai tor
,th at the truth i s told
Not of cl e ar Love, but of th at soul i nstead .
CARL OTTA PERRY
HERE wil l I ask of Chri s t th e LordThus much for h im and me,
Only to l ive as once on ea rthWith Love , only to be ,As th en awhi le, forever nowTog ether, I and he .
DANTE GABR IEL RO SSETT I2 1 0
FROM “ TO LYD IA MAR I A CH I LD
T I LL on the l ips of al l we questionThe finger of God ’s s i lence l i es ;
W i l l th e lost hands i n ou rs be folded !Will the shut eyel ids ever rise
0 fr iend , no proof beyond thi s yearni ng,This outreach of our h earts we need ;God will not mock th e hope he giveth
,
N 0 love he prompts sh all vai nly plead.
Then let us stretch our hands i n darkness ,And call our loved ones o ’er and o ’er ;Some day th ei r arms shall close about us,And th e old voices speak once more .
JOHN GREENL EAF WH ITT IER
0 LOVE and Death !Ye have sad meetings on th i s ch ang efu l e arth ,Many and sad —bu t ai rs of heavenly breathShall mel t the l i nks th at bi nd you
,for your bi rth
l s far apart .FEL ICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS
NOT D eath is strong enough to part asunderWhom Life and Love h ath j oined .
EDW IN ARNOL D2 1 2
HE AND SHE
HE is dead ! ” they sa id to h im ,
“ Come away ;Kiss her ! and leave her — thy love i s clay
They smoothed h e r tresses of dark brown hair ;On her forehead of marble they lai d i t fa i r ;
Over h er eyes , which gazed too much ,They drew h er l ids with gentl e touch ;
With a tender touch they closed up wellTh e sweet thi n l ips th at had secrets to tell ;
About her brows, and her dear , pal e faceThey tied her ve i l and her marr iage-lace ;
And drew on her wh i te fee t her wh i te S i lk shoesWhich were th e wh i ter no eye could choose
And over h er bosom they crossed her h ands ;Come away, they said , “ God understands
And th en there was S i lence ; and noth ing thereBut the S i lence and scents of e g lant e re ,
And jasm i ne,and roses
,and rosemary ;
For th ey sa i d , As a lady Should l i e, l i es sh e
And they held thei r breath as they left th e roomWith a Shudder to glance at i ts st i llness and gloom .
2 1 3
But he who loved her too well to dreadThe sweet
,th e stately
,the beautiful dead
,
He li t h i s l amp,and took the key
,
And tu rn ’d i t al one agai n he and sh e
He and sh e ! but sh e would not speak,
Though he kiss ’d i n the old place, th e quiet cheek
He and sh e ; yet sh e would not smi le ,Though he call
’d h er th e name that was fondest e rewhi le
He and sh e ; and sh e did not moveTo any one passionate wh i sper of love !
Then said, Cold lips and breast wi thout breath !IS th ere no voice no language of death
Dumb to the ear and sti ll to the sense,
But to heart and to soul disti nct,i ntense
See, now, I li sten wi th soul,not ear
What was the secre t of dying,Dear !
Was it th e i nfini te wonder of all,
How the spiri t could let li fe ’s flower fall
Or was i t a greater marvel to feelThe perfect calm o ’er th e agony steal !
Was th e mi racl e greates t to find how deep,
Beyond all dreams, sank downward that S le ep !
2 14
The utmost wonder is th i s,I hear
,
And se e you, and love you , and k i s s you , Dear
I can speak , now you l i s ten wi th soul alone ;I f your soul could se e , i t would all be shown
What a strang e, del ic i ous amazement i s Death ,To be without body and breathe wi thout breath .
I should laugh for j oy if you did not cry ;Oh , l i ste n ; Love lasts ! Love never wi l l die
I am only your Angel who was your Bride !And I know that though dead I have never d i ed .
EDW IN ARNOL D
THE V IOLET
GOD does not send us strange flowers every year
,
When the spring winds blow o ’e r the pleasantplaces,
The same dear thi ngs l ift up th e Same fai r faces,
The viole t is h ere .
It all comes back,th e odor
,grace
,and hue
,
Each swe et re lation of i ts l ife repeated ;N 0 blank i s left
,no looking-for i s ch eated
,
I t i s th e th i ng we knew .
SO after death ’s winter i t must be,
God wi ll not put strange signs i n h eavenly places,The old love Shal l look out from the old faces
,
Vei lchen ! I sh all h ave thee .
MRS . A . D . T . WH ITNEY2 1 6
WE TWO
H , painfu l- swee t ! how can I take i t i n !That somewhere in the i ll imi table blue
Of God ’s pure space, whi ch men call Heaven , wetwo
Again Shal l find e ach other, and begi nThe i nfinite l ife of love , a l ife ak inTo ang els
’
,on ly ang e ls ne ver knew
The ecstacy of blessedness that d rewUs each to each, eve n i n this wo rld o f sin .
Yea, find each other The remo tes t starOf al l the g alax i es wo u ld hold in vainO ur soul s apart , that have been heretoforeAs close ly interchang eable as areOne mind and sp ir i t . Oh , j oy that ach es to pa i n,To be togethe r we two forever more
MARGARET ! . PRESTON
AT END
T end o f Love,at end of L ife ,
At end of Hope,at e nd of S tri fe
,
At end of a l l we cl ing to so ,
The sun i s setti ng must we go
At dawn of Love, at dawn Of Li fe ,At dawn of P eace that follows S tri fe ,At dawn of al l we long fo r so,Th e su n i s r i s ing le t u s go !
LOU ISE CHANDL ER MOU L TON2 1 7
We love b u t FewTh e Girdle of Friendsh ipFriendship0 near Ones, dear OnesA TributeMy Kate
I I I .
Pour out thy love l ike the rush of a riverFrom TheMessage of an ZEolian Harp,
” We cannotlove too much
Learn that to love i s the one way to knowLove muchSonne t, “Trus t me , - I have not earned your dearRebuke ”
Go forth in Li fe no t seek ing LoveLove ’s Fulfill ingWhat shall I do for my Love !
Oh , i f thou be’s t True Lover .
From “ Th e Cas tl e in the A i rThe Sea-ShellGive all to love
IV.
Am I not the noble r through thy love !I f augh t can make me seekSoftly the Even ing ShadowsSome Lo ver ’s dear Though tA FaceFrom The M is tress of the ManseTo Harriet tFrom Th e Angel in the HouseFr iendsh ip
2 2 0
God measures souls by the ir capaci tyHappy are they who k iss theeLove, the Mus i c ianA Fr iendsh ipI remember the only wise thing I ever d idIn the A i rAll t rue, deep feel ing purifies the heartSonnet, I f i t b e true that any beauteousGo ing to ChurchW i th my love this knowledge too was g iven
V.
1 meet her on the dusty s tree tI loved thee for that clear, deep lovingnessCalais SandsTy ing her Bonnet under her ChinLove on DeckA Red, Red RoseIn a GondolaA N i ce Corresponden tTh e Clover BlossomsAnni e LaurieUnder the RoseA Love ExtravaganzaTh e Smil e of her I loveLove ’s PrayerLoveTh e chords of love must be strong as death
VI .
I love you. Words are smallI love you, D earI ’m sorry that I spel t the word .
2 2 1
Th e Sweetes t Flower that blowsI love theeSong from a D ramaMeasure for MeasureSonne t, - “ O my heart ’s heart andme
BecauseOne FaceFrom “ The Cup of YouthA Love SymphonyFrom The Ances tressFour WordsU rvasi
Pro tes tat ionsFrom “The Span ish S tudentBened ici te
VI I .
I t has been such a day as that thou knowestNot from the whole wide world I choose theeWhat the Rose sawLoversFrom“ Li fe ’s Mys teriesFrom The Gardener’s Daugh terWon ’ t You !K iss me softlyProposalFour-Leaf CloverLove ’s PhilosophyTh e cup of love the hands of two holdIndeed I love theeFrom “
! ueen Mary, —TheHappies t HourEven ing Song
2 2 2
I th ink we had the Chief of all love ’sLoversAnswer to a Child ’s ! uestionLove No tesSong from Piero Da Cas t ig l ioneOn a ClockLove ’s Lang uag eThere is a g lory in tree and blossom
X .
0 Li fe , what afte r-joy hast thouNo th ing i s be tter, I well knowLife may to you bring every goodLife ’s G iftsEurekaI s imply say that she is goodThe Song Of the CampLove is the only good in the worldGoneBestLove ’s l igh t i s s trange to you ! Ah , me !An ExtravaganzaTh e Two LovesBette r Th ingsFrom KatrinaVV e dde d
Love ’s Thread of GoldFrom “ Lay of the Las t MinstrelLove among the RuinsFrom Th e Children of the Lord ’s SupperErosThe gate of H eaven i s Love
2 24
XI .
H e sang out of h is soul what he found thereLove is no t to be reasoned down or lostI never knew i t, Love, t i ll nowLove scorns DegreesTh e Las t LetterFor they alone have need of sorrowAll the Year RoundLove and LifeTh e H eart ’s CallMy ! eanFrom HaroldAh , Love ! le t us be trueFrom Evang el ineLove ’s Final PowersFrom A rteveldeI canno t tell the spell that binds thine image
XI I .
Too full of love my soul i s to find placeI do no t love thee less for what is doneTwo TruthsA t Noon and Midn ightOur OwnA Le tterW e k issed agai n wi th TearsForg ivenI t is n ’
t the th ing you do, dearH e r fittes t tri umph is to Show that good
XIII .
No t to b e wi th you , no t to see your face0 friend ! O best of friends ! Thy absence mo re1 5 2 2 5
GoneFrom M i chael Ang eloAbsenceThe Boat of my LoverThe Loved One Ever Near .
But oh ! ’
t was hard to have —to knowAmong the H eatherThey PartedGood -by, Swee theart0 Days and HoursParting WordsWords for Part ing
XIV.
Thi ther where he l ies buriedPeace , wi ld-wrung hands ! hush , sobbing breath !The W edding Ve ilSco tch H eatherThe Two L ocks of HairA ShadowRondel
XV .
Think not in death my love could ever ceas eThere is hope that i s never pu t byThe Unwi se Cho i ceA Woman ’s Death -\V o u ndA Woman ’s Thought .
Burn t ShipsPresage
2 2 6
A FarewellFrom To Lydia Maria Child0 Love and DeathNo t Death is s trong enough to part asunderH e and SheThe V iole tW e TwoA t End
2 2 8
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