Maiden Eyes But when stars and twilight meet, And thou hear'st my coming feet,— Then-thou then-mayst heed me! 63r Charles Swain [1801-1874] ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS? WE see them not-we cannot hear The music of their wing Yet know we that they sojourn near, They glide along this lovely ground Their graceful hands have just unbound I gather it for thy dear breast, That which an Angel's touch hath blest Is meet, my love, for thee! Robert Stephen Hawker [1803-1875] MAIDEN EYES You never bade me hope, 'tis true; The vow should bind, with maiden sighs But that which looks from maiden eyes Should last of all be broken. Gerald Griffin [1803-1840] HALLOWED PLACES I PASS my days among the quiet places Made sacred by your feet. The air is cool in the fresh woodland spaces, The sunset fills the wide sky with its splendor, I stop and listen for a voice strong, tender, You are the heart of every gleam of glory, About you gathers all the fair year's story; Alice Freeman Palmer [1855-1902] THE LADY'S "YES" "YES," I answered you last night; Will not look the same by day. When the viols played their best, Lamps above, and laughs below, Love me sounded like a jest, Call me false or call me free, No man on your face shall see Yet the sin is on us both; Time to dance is not to woo; Song Learn to win a lady's faith Nobly, as the thing is high, Bravely, as for life and death, With a loyal gravity. Lead her from the festive boards,- By your truth she shall be true, SHALL be Yes for evermore. 633 And she is grown so dear, so dear, That I would be the jewel That trembles in her ear; For hid in ringlets day and night, I'd touch her neck so warm and white. And I would be the girdle About her dainty, dainty waist, And her heart would beat against me, In sorrow and in rest; And I should know if it beat right, I'd clasp it round so close and tight. And I would be the necklace, And all day long to fall and rise Upon her balmy bosom With her laughter or her sighs; And I would lie so light, so light, I scarce should be unclasped at night. Alfred Tennyson [1809-1892] LILIAN AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Clasps her tiny hand above me, Laughing all she can; She'll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian. When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs, She, looking through and through me, Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, Prithee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse Wearieth me, May Lilian: Through my very heart it thrilleth, When from crimson-threaded lips Silver-treble laughter thrilleth: Prithee weep, May Lilian! Ronsard to His Mistress 635 BUGLE SONG From "The Princess" THE splendor falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story: Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, O hark, O hear! how thin and clear, The horns of Elfland faintly blowing! Blow, let us hear the purple glens replying: O love, they die in yon rich sky, They faint on hill or field or river: Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow for ever and for ever. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, RONSARD TO HIS MISTRESS "Quand vous serez bien vieille, le soir à la chandelle Direz, chantant mes vers en vous esmerveillant, SOME winter night, shut snugly in Beside the fagot in the hall, I think I see you sit and spin, Surrounded by your maidens all. |