So potent that who sips must sip again, Or else the length of life is length of pain Wherein to cultivate the cynic's page,
Himself a thing and the dull world a cage.
Each had the love that makes the bosom swell, Each knew the other's love, and loved it well,
For looks and sighs have tongues. Yet spoke he not As will a lover who has all forgot
But that which crowns his love; for how could he, Unless he turned from truth to villainy,
Reward the old man for his blessings lent
By robbing him of that which heaven had sent To comfort him in age? and how could she, A maiden reared in all humility,
Give up her simple ways for princely rank? So Crispus from a bitter goblet drank, And oft he thought upon it: "Let me not Plunder the goodness of another's lot
To feed mine own. No, no, then should I be The very essence of foul falsity;
I should but feel the semblant of a man, And not a man indeed, and such a ban Would sting and overcloud the sunniest day, And that rich pearl which I had ta'en away Would be a canker worm instead of joy."
In all that is on earth there is annoy. Alone Lucille would say: "He loves me well, And yet I know not; how may a maiden tell Whether it be love that makes a bosom swell, Or whether it be breath inhaled at pleasure, And used deceitfully? O who can measure An inward passion by an outward sign? Or Love's results and potent laws define? A youth may sigh at will, or he may keep A pallid face by lack of food and sleep, Dress carelessly, say pretty words by rote, Assume dejection, and sweet ditties quote; This he may do whether he love or not. No, 'tis my cruelty, and I do blot Goodness and truth. He has a faithful eye,
And love seems in the wind when he is by." VOL. X., N.S. 1873.
'Twas sultry evening, and Prince Crispus slept Upon a couch. Lucilla softly stept
To watch him in remembrance, for she Had been beside him in his misery.
Soon suddenly he rose and in alarm
That came from joy, not sorrow, clasp'd her arm, And said, with trembling of his voice and frame, "Yes, love, it will be so; it is the same.
O heaven, I have been full in the blaze Of paradise. Where am I? Silvery rays, Are you Lucilla? What a time of bliss! O melody, be still, or I shall miss My sense and sink to everlasting swoon. You are Lucilla? Yes, that is the moon, But it is dull that was so crystal white Ere I did sleep. Forgive me, love, I run From reason, I behold the glorious sun, And soon the day will die. O what delight Has charmed my every sense! and even you Have been my partner and companion true. Reality of sweetest dreams! my soul,
Have I not touched the brink? If this the goal We rise to let the dull and tedious hours Come quick as drops of rain in thunder showers, Till all my days are dead and—if I live And you are not a shade, Lucille, forgive My wandering. Though I again have slipped From up above to earth, yet I have dipped My being into beauty, and I feel
Celestial fineness through my nature steal.
The scum that clogged my veins, the heavy slime
That weighed me down is gone. O dream sublime! I'll take thee as an omen from the sky—
A secret and a promise, too, that I
May hope, Lucilla, that-Lucilla, why
Do you so turn? Have I been mocked above?
Was it a double dream, and is my love But wasted hope? Give me a sign, or I- O thanks to you and heaven-shall I cry, Or weep, or laugh with happiness, or sigh? Now could I kiss your lips till they were dry. I'm through the blue again, and it doth seem
I wake in ecstasy to find my dream Giving to airy things vitality, To vision substance and reality.
Lend me your hand. Come closer, dear, So I may gently speak and give your ear The purport of my flight in whisperings. O for Daphne's pipe and Psyche's wings! That we might rise with music to the tip Of rosy-cushioned clouds, and softly sip Ethereal sweets. I would I might convey My inward pulse of joy to you, or say As I do feel. Yet I will try to make A little boat of Fancy that may take
Your mind with mine, and you perchance may peep Into the mazy strangeness of my sleep, And in relating, if I downward sink,
New inspiration from your face I'll drink, And your blue eyes will lift me to the scene; And I shall be again where I have been."
Their hands were linked together in a kiss Of tremulous love, and into dreams of bliss Lucilla's joyful mind already ran.
Sinking upon his pillow he began,
With half-closed eyes, and on his face a smile: "You think it is my weakness doth beguile My sense, Lucille. No, better and not sad, And though a little weak, I am not mad; Or I should still be shrinking to the grave Without the power a wandering soul to save. Faint with a mighty love I dared not tell : It is not so, Lucille, I love you well. I may not keep my love unspoken now, For I have taken in my dream a vow When next that we should meet to tell it you; And though I vowed believing I and you Were long ago immortals it doth seem I may not trifle with my holy dream. Though I was in Elysium at its birth,
The good was painted for my help on earth. This day I dreamt, Lucilla, I and you Went from the earth: our souls together flew
Full of new love to heaven. The night is fine: I'll tell thee all, Lucilla, in the shine
Of setting sun, and we will sit at ease Upon yon sunny bank among the trees."
O for the speech of deities to tell
The joys true lovers know beneath the spell Of youthful passion! The delicious spring And summertime voluptuous cannot bring The heart to such serenity of bliss.
How sweet the loving faith, the long warm kiss When lips to lips bring blushes to the cheek, Conveying messages they could not speak! How sweet the meeting with its lusty showers Of favours, and how sweet a lover's flowers! How sweet the parting if the mate could stay To kiss and part and part and kiss for aye! How sweet the earnest mutual embrace ! How sweet the amorous uplifted face And truthful eyes, brimful of tender looks, Speaking a language richer far than books. Or summer song by poet put together Under a shady tree in sunny weather!
And he discoursing music to her ear Led her along the path, and she drew near- Drew very near-unto her lover's side, And listened and looked up to him with pride. Upon her cheek, full healthy in its youth,
Sat tears of tenderness, a touch of truth; And he became acquainted with her thought, Could somewhat solve a mystic soul, and sought
A soothing shelter for his melancholy,
A charm for chill as is red-berried holly
Like Eve and Adam in the golden glow; And passing under branches cool and green, They went away and never more were seen.
VENUS ON THE SUN'S FACE.
BY R. A. PROCTOR, B.A. (CAMBRIDGE),
HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, AUTHOR OF "SATURN," "THE SUN," "OTHER WORLDS THAN OURS," &c.
ACH evening during the month of April the planet o Love could be seen in the west for a few hours after sunset. She set earlier and earlier each successive night-overtaking the sun, as it were-and towards the On the 5th of May
end of April she could no longer be detected. she had overtaken the sun, passing him at a distance of about three times his own breadth above or to the north of his disc. When these lines appear she will be a morning star. This passage by the sun is the last made by Venus (at least when on the hither side of him) before the long desired and now famous transit of December 9, 1874, when, instead of passing by the sun, either above or below his disc, as she usually does, she will pass right across his face.
So much has been said of late respecting this approaching phenomenon, and so much importance is deservedly attached to it, that my readers will probably be interested by a brief and simple account of the matter. In particular some may desire to know what has been the special aim of the controversy recently and still in progress. Before entering on these matters, I will make a few remarks on the history of former transits.
The first occasion on which Venus was ever seen on the sun's face was on November 24, 1639 (Old Style), corresponding to December 4 (New Style). It is rather singular that then, somewhat as at present, doubts had arisen, owing to a difference of opinion between an astronomer of established reputation and one less known to the scientific world. The Belgian astronomer Lansberg had stated in his "Tables of the Motion of Venus" that no transit would occur in 1639. Young Horrox, while preparing himself for practical observation, undertook (apparently from sheer love of science) the computation of Venus's motions from the tables of Lansberg. These tables were so highly valued by their author that he had spoken of them as superior to all others, quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupressi But Horrox recognised many imperfections in them, and at length, as he says, "broke off the useless computation, resolved for the future
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