But She-She can't grow gray; and so,

Her slave, whose hairs are falling,
Must e'en his Doric flute forgo,
And seek some graver calling,—

Not ill-content to stand aside,-
To yield to minstrels fitter
His singing-robes, his singing-pride,
His fancies sweet.. and bitter!

1895

"SAT EST SCRIPSISSE"

(TO EDMUND GOSSE, WITH A COLLECTION

WHEN

OF ESSAYS)

HEN You and I have wandered beyond the reach of call,

And all our Works immortal lie scattered on

the Stall,

It may be some new Reader, in that remoter

age,

Will find this present Volume and listless turn the page.

For him I speak these verses. And, Sir (I say to him),

This Book you see before you,—this masterpiece of Whim,

Of Wisdom, Learning, Fancy (if you will, please, attend),

Was written by its Author, who gave it to his Friend.

For they had worked together,—been Comrades of the Pen;

They had their points at issue, they differed now and then;

But both loved Song and Letters, and each had close at heart

The hopes, the aspirations, the “dear delays" of Art.

And much they talked of Measures, and more they talked of Style,

Of Form and "lucid Order," of "labour of the

File";

And he who wrote the writing, as sheet by sheet was penned

(This all was long ago, Sir!), would read it to his Friend.

They knew not, nor cared greatly, if they were spark or star;

They knew to move is somewhat, although the goal be far;

And larger light or lesser, this thing at least is

clear,

They served the Muses truly,-their service was sincere.

This tattered page you see, Sir, this page alone

remains

(Yes,-fourpence is the lowest !) of all those pleasant pains;

And as for him that reads it, and as for him that

wrote,

No Golden Book enrolls them among its "Names of Note."

And yet they had their office. Though they today are passed,

They marched in that procession where is no first or last;

Though cold is now their hoping, though they no more aspire,

They too had once their ardour-they handed

on the fire.

1893 [1892].

ROSE-LEAVES

"Sans peser.-Sans rester."

A KISS.

ROSE kissed me to-day.

Will she kiss me to-morrow?

Let it be as it may,

Rose kissed me to-day

But the pleasure gives way

To a savour of sorrow ;

Rose kissed me to-day,

Will she kiss me to-morrow?

CIRCE.

IN the School of Coquettes

Madam Rose is a scholar :-

O, they fish with all nets

In the School of Coquettes !