IF

MAY MARGARET

you be that May Margaret
That lived on Kendal Green,

Then where 's that sunny hair of yours
That crowned you like a queen?
That sunny hair is dim, lad,
They said was like a crown —
The red gold turned to gray, lad,
The night a ship went down.

If you be yet May Margaret,
May Margaret now as then,
Then where's that bonny smile of
That broke the hearts of men?
The bonny smile is wan, lad,
That once was glad as day-

And oh! 't is weary smiling

To keep the tears away.

If you be yet May Margaret,

As yet you swear to me,

yours

Then where's that proud, cold heart of yours

That sent your love to sea? Ah! me, that heart is broken, The proud cold heart has bled For one light word outspoken, For all the love unsaid.

Then Margaret, my Margaret,
If all you say be true,
Your hair is yet the sunniest gold,
Your eyes the sweetest blue.
And dearer yet and fairer yet
For all the coming years
The fairer for the waiting,
The dearer for the tears!

LAST NIGHT

(FROM THE SWEDISH)

LAST night the nightingale waked me, Last night when all was still;

It sang in the golden moonlight
From out the woodland hill.
I opened the window gently,
And all was dreamy dew
And oh the bird, my darling,
Was singing, singing of you!

I think of you in the day-time;
I dream of you by night -
I wake - would you were near me.
And hot tears blind my sight.
I hear a sigh in the lime-tree,
The wind is floating through,
And oh! the night, my darling,
Is longing, longing for you.

Nor think I can forget you!

I could not though I would! I see you in all around me,

The stream, the night, the wood; The flowers that sleep so gently,

The stars above the blue,
Oh! heaven itself, my darling,
Is praying, praying for you.

CARPE DIEM

TO-DAY, what is there in the air
That makes December seem sweet May?
There are no swallows anywhere,
Nor crocuses to crown your hair,
And hail you down my garden way.

Last night the full moon's frozen stare
Struck me, perhaps; or did you say
Really, you'd come, sweet friend and fair
To-day?

To-day is here:- come! crown to-day

With Spring's delight or Spring's despair, Love cannot bide old Time's delay : Down my glad gardens light winds play, And my whole life shall bloom and bear To-day.

BELOW THE HEIGHTS

I SAT at Berne, and watched the chain Of icy peaks and passes,

That towered like gods above the plain, In stern majestic masses.

I waited till the evening light
Upon their heads descended;
They caught it on their glittering height,
And held it there suspended.

I saw the red spread o'er the white,
How like a maiden's blushing,

At babble with his vespers ?-Silver sweet! It minds me of the holy brotherhood, Chanting adown the banks.

As yesterday

I see all clear, how as they moved they chanted,

And made a mute procession in the stream. [Gazing abstractedly on the water.]

Merrily sang the monks of Ely,
As Canute the king passed by.
Row to the shore, knights, said the king,
And let us hear the Churchmen sing.

Still are they singing? It was Candlemas, My queen sat splendid at the prow and listened

With heaving breast. 'Twas then the passion seized me

To emulate, to let her know my ear Had common pleasure with her, and I thrilled

The story out. The look she turned on

me!

Those I could catch up quickly: —

- for the

blood Was leaping all the while. But here is clary,

The blessed thistle, yarrow, sicklewort,
And all-heal red as gore. I knew a wood
So dark and cool, I crept for lily-leaves;
Then it grew lonely, and I lost the way.
But, oh, you must not beat me ; it is done.
Father, I stabbed him, throw away the
whip!
So I plucked

Now God will scourge me.
the flowers,
And sang for mercy
Priest Sampson taught me, Miserere!
Can.

in the holy words

This

Edmund,

Is Edric's child, the little murderer, Who did my deed of treason.

turn

Those trustful eyes from off me.

Child.

He will be dead

fell,

Take me back.

He fell, O father,

And when I put my cheek against his side, Gave a great pant. Let's pray for him together.

Can you sing Miserere? For I did it,
And then he looked. . . Once in the ivy.

tod

I caught an owl, and hurt its wing. "T was

SO

He looked. Oh, quickly tell me where he lies

Next room? or down the passage? Do you know

He was my uncle, and was kissing me,