Ah me! he will not come ! He swims at large,-looks shyly on,-is dumb. Some gilded fop, or mincing courtier-fribble, He's far too proud to be a dangling slave; THE SUNDIAL IS an old dial, dark with many a stain; 'TIS In summer crowned with drifting orchard bloom, Tricked in the autumn with the yellow rain, And white in winter like a marble tomb; And round about its gray, time-eaten brow row: I am a Shade: a Shadowe too arte thou: I marke the Time: saye, Gossip, dost thou soe? Here would the ringdoves linger, head to head; And here the snail a silver course would run, Beating old Time; and here the peacock spread His gold-green glory, shutting out the sun. The tardy shade moved forward to the noon; That swung a flower, and, smiling, hummed a tune, Before whose feet a barking spaniel leapt. O'er her blue dress an endless blossom strayed; About her tendril-curls the sunlight shone; And round her train the tiger-lilies swayed, Like courtiers bowing till the queen be gone. She leaned upon the slab a little while, Then drew a jewelled pencil from her zone, Scribbled a something with a frolic smile, Folded, inscribed, and niched it in the stone. The shade slipped on, no swifter than the snail; An inner beauty shining from her face. She, as if listless with a lonely love, Straying among the alleys with a book,— Herrick or Herbert,-watched the circling dove, And spied the tiny letter in the nook. Then, like to one who confirmation found Of some dread secret half-accounted true,Who knew what hands and hearts the letter bound, And argued loving commerce 'twixt the two, She bent her fair young forehead on the stone; The dark shade gloomed an instant on her head; And 'twixt her taper-fingers pearled and shone The single tear that tear-worn eyes will shed. The shade slipped onward to the falling gloom; There came a soldier gallant in her stead, Swinging a beaver with a swaling plume, A ribboned love-lock rippling from his head; Blue-eyed, frank-faced, with clear and open brow, Scar-seamed a little, as the women love; So kindly fronted that you marvel how The frequent sword-hilt had so frayed his glove; Who switched at Psyche plunging in the sun; Uncrowned three lilies with a backward swinge And standing somewhat widely, like to one More used to "Boot and Saddle" than to cringe As courtiers do, but gentleman withal, Took out the note; held it as one who feared The fragile thing he held would slip and fall; Read and re-read, pulling his tawny beard; Kissed it, I think, and hid it in his breast; The shade crept forward through the dying glow; There came no more nor dame nor cavalier; But for a little time the brass will show A small gray spot-the record of a tear. AN UNFINISHED SONG "Cantat Deo qui vivit Deo," YES, he was well-nigh gone and near his rest, The year could not renew him; nor the cry Of building nightingales about the nest; Nor that soft freshness of the May-wind's sigh That fell before the garden scents, and died But death not yet. Outside a woman talked- Overhead, A cage that hung amid the jasmine stars Then notes came pouring through the wicker bars, Climbed half a rapid arc of song, and stopped. |