Delay'd it may be for more lives yet, Through worlds I shall traverse, not a few: Much is to learn, much to forget Ere the time be come for taking you. But the time will come, at last it will, When, Evelyn Hope, what meant (I shall say) In the lower earth, in the years long still, I have liv'd (I shall say) so much since then, Given up myself so many times, Gain'd me the gains of various men, Ransack'd the ages, spoil'd the climes; Yet one thing, one, in my soul's full scope, Either I miss'd or itself miss'd me: And I want and find you, Evelyn Hope! What is the issue? let us see! I lov'd you, Evelyn, all the while! My heart seem'd full as it could hold; There was place and to spare for the frank young smile, And the red young mouth, and the hair's young_gold. So hush, I will give you this leaf to keep : See, I shut it inside the sweet cold hand! There, that is our secret: go to sleep! You will wake, and remember, and understand. "CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME"1 My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with malicious eye Askance to watch the working of his lie On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford Suppression of the glee, that purs'd and scor'd Its edge, at one more victim gain'd thereby. 1 See Edgar's song in "Lear." Burningly it came on me all at once, This was the place! those two hills on the right, Couch'd like two bulls lock'd horn in horn in fight, While, to the left, a tall scalp'd mountain Dunce, Dotard, a-dozing at the very nonce, After a life spent training for the sight! What in the midst lay but the Tower itself? The round squat turret, blind as the fool's heart, Built of brown stone, without a counterpart In the whole world. The tempest's mocking elf Points to the shipman thus the unseen shelf He strikes on, only when the timbers start. There they stood, ranged along the hillsides, met To view the last of me, a living frame For one more picture! in a sheet of flame I saw them and I knew them all. And yet Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set, And blew "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came." RESPECTABILITY DEAR, had the world in its caprice Deign'd to proclaim "I know you both, Have recogniz'd your plighted troth, Am sponsor for you live in peace!" How many precious months and years Of youth had pass'd, that speed so fast, Before we found it out at last, The world, and what it fears ? How much of priceless life were spent Ere we dar'd wander, nights like this, To warmth and light and bliss ? -the Institute ! Guizot receives Montalembert! Eh? Down the court three lampions flare: Put forward your best foot! For there I picked up on the heather And there I put inside my breast A moulted feather, an eagle-feather! Well, I forget the rest. ONE WAY OF LOVE ALL June I bound the rose in sheaves. Let them lie. Suppose they die ? How many a month I strove to suit My whole life long I learn'd to love. Those who win heaven, bless'd are they! |