250

MADAME LA MARQUISE.

Who could live with a doll, though its locks should

be curled,

And its petticoats trimmed in the fashion?

'Tis so fair!

Will it

cry

Would my bite, if I bit it, draw blood?

if I hurt it? or scold if I kiss?

Is it made, with its beauty, of wax or of wood?

Is it worth while to guess at all this?

1HE CHESSBOARD.

OWEN MEREDITH.

EAR little fool! do you remember,
Ere we were grown so sadly wise,

Those evenings in the bleak December,

Curtained warm from the snowy weather,
When you and I played chess together,
Checkmated by each other's eyes?
Ah! still I see your warm white hand
Hovering o'er queen and knight;
Brave pawns in valiant battle stand;
The double castles guard the wings;
The bishop, bent on distant things,
Moves, sidling, through the fight.
Our fingers touch; our glances meet,
And falter; falls your golden hair

252

THE CHESSBOARD.

Against my cheek; your bosom sweet
Is heaving. Down the field, your queen
Rides slow her soldiery all between,

And checks me, unaware.

Ah me! the little battle's done,

Disperst is all its chivalry.

Full many a move, since then, have we

'Mid life's perplexing chequers made,

And many a game with Fortune played,

What is it we have won?

This, this at least-if this alone;

That never, never, never more,

As in those old still nights of yore
(Ere we were grown so sadly wise),
Can you and I shut out the skies,
Shut out the world, and wintry weather,
And, eyes exchanging warmth with eyes,
Play chess, as then we played, together!

SINCE WE PARTED.

OWEN MEredith.

INCE we parted yester eve,

I do love thee, love, believe

Twelve times dearer, twelve hours longer,

One dream deeper, one night stronger,

One sun surer,-thus much more

Than I loved thee, love, before.

THE TIME I'VE LOST IN WOOING.

THOMAS MOORE.

HE time I've lost in wooing,

In watching and pursuing

The light that lies

In Woman's eyes,

Has been my heart's undoing.

Though Wisdom oft has sought me,
I scorned the lore she brought me,

My only books

Were Woman's looks,

And folly's all they taught me.

Her smiles when Beauty granted,

I hung with gaze enchanted,