These in every shower creep Through the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. VI. The gold-eyed kingcups fine, Kings have no such couch as thine, VII. Wild words wander here and there; Makes thy memory confused But let them rave. The balm-cricket carols clear In the green that folds thy grave. LOVE AND DEATH. WHAT time the mighty moon was gathering light, And talking to himself, first met his sight: "You must begone," said Death ;" these walks are mine. Love wept and spread his sheeny vans for flight; Yet ere he parted said, "This hour is thine; Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath, Life eminent creates the shade of death; . THE BALLAD OF ORIANA. My heart is wasted with my woe, Oriana. 'There is no rest for me below Oriana. When the long dun wolds are ribbed with snow, Oriana, Alone I wander to and fro, Oriana. Ere the light on dark was growing, At midnight the cock was crowing, Winds were blowing, waters flowing, Aloud the hollow bugle blowing In the yew-wood, black as night, Oriana, Ere I rode into the fight, Oriana, While blissful tears blinded my sight, By star-shine and by moon-light, Oriana, I to thee my troth did plight, Oriana. She stood upon the castle wall, Oriana: She watched my crest among them all, Oriana: She saw me fight, she heard me call, When forth there stept a foeman tall, Oriana, Atween me and the castle wall, Oriana. The bitter arrow went aside, Oriana: The false, false arrow went aside, The damned arrow glanced aside, And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride, Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride, O! narrow, narrow was the space, Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays, O! deathful stabs were dealt apace, The battle deepened in its place, Oriana; But I was down upon my face, Oriana. They should have stabbed me where I lay, Oriana! How could I rise and come away, Oriana ? |