I can give not what men call love; The worship the heart lifts above Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822] FROM THE ARABIC My faint spirit was sitting in the light It panted for thee like the hind at noon Thy barb, whose hoofs outspeed the tempest's flight, My heart, for my weak feet were weary soon, Did companion thee. Ah! fleeter far than fleetest storm or steed, Or the death they bear, The heart which tender thought clothes like a dove With the wings of care; In the battle, in the darkness, in the need, Shall mine cling to thee, Nor claim one smile for all the comfort, love, It may bring to thee. Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822] THE WANDERING KNIGHT'S SONG My ornaments are arms, My pastime is in war, My bed is cold upon the wold, My lamp yon star. My journeyings are long, My slumbers short and broken; Kissing thy token. The Secret Love I ride from land to land, I sail from sea to sea; Some day more kind I fate may find, Some night, kiss thee. 627 John Gibson Lockhart [1794-1854] SONG LOVE'S on the highroad, Love's in the byroad Love's on the meadow, and Love's in the mart! And down every byway Where I've taken my way I've met Love a-smiling-for Love's in my heart! Dana Burnett [1888 THE SECRET LOVE You and I have found the secret way, You and I for all his vaunted width You and I have laughed the leagues apart You and I have trod the backward way To the love we felt in ages past. You and I have found it still to last. You and I have found the joy had birth You and I can mock his fabled wing, And the throb wherein those old lips met Is a living music in us yet. A. E. (George William Russell) (1867– THE FLOWER OF BEAUTY SWEET in her green dell the flower of beauty slumbers, Lulled by the faint breezes sighing through her hair; Sleeps she, and hears not the melancholy numbers Breathed to my sad lute amid the lonely air? Down from the high cliffs the rivulet is teeming To wind round the willow-banks that lure him from above: Oh that, in tears from my rocky prison streaming, I too could glide to the bower of my love! Ah, where the woodbines with sleepy arms have wound her, Opes she her eyelids at the dream of my lay, Listening like the dove, while the fountains echo round her, To her lost mate's call in the forest far away? Come, then, my bird! for the peace thou ever bearest, MY SHARE OF THE WORLD I AM jealous: I am true: Sick at heart for love of you, O my share of the world! I am cold, O, cold as stone To all men save you alone. Seven times slower creeps the day O my share of the world! My Share of the World Seven times darker falls the night. Measureless my joy and pride For your face is my delight, To the dance and to the wake O my share of the world! Just to see your face awhile, And the gay word on my lip To my share of the world! My poor mother sighs anew I would part with wealth and ease, For my share of the world! Houseless under sun and dew, Your heart's love would keep me warm. I would pray and I would crave To be with you in the grave, O my share of the world! 629 I would go through fire and flood, For my share of the world! Alice Furlong [1875 SONG A LAKE and a fairy boat To sail in the moonlight clear,— And merrily we would float From the dragons that watch us here! Thy gown should be snow-white silk, Should twine with thy raven curls. Red rubies should deck thy hands, "SMILE AND NEVER HEED ME" THOUGH, when other maids stand by, I may deign thee no reply, Turn not then away, and sigh, Smile, and never heed me! If our love, indeed, be such As must thrill at every touch, Why should others learn as much?— Even if, with maiden pride, Smile, and never heed me! |