What has she not that those have got,— Her neck is white as milk. Before the spray is white with May, Let those who will be proud and chill! For me, from June to June, My Dolly's words are sweet as curds- With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Before the spray is white with May, Break, break to hear, O crocus-spear! There'll be a bride at Easter-tide, With a hey, Dolly! ho, Dolly! Before the spray is white with May, AN EASTERN APOLOGUE (TO E. H. P.) MELIK the Sultán, tired and wan, Nodded at noon on his diván. Beside the fountain lingered near Old YUSUF, sour and hard to please; Then JAMÍL sang, in words like these. Slim is Butheina-slim is she As boughs of the Aráka tree! "Nay," quoth the other, teeth between, แ "Lean, if you will,-I call her lean." Sweet is Butheina-sweet as wine, With smiles that like red bubbles shine! "True,―by the Prophet!" YUSUF said. "She makes men wander in the head!" Dear is Butheina-ah! more dear "Dear," came the answer, quick as thought, "Dear. . and yet always to be bought." So JAMIL ceased. But still Life's page And-be the song of ghouls or gods- 1881. A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC OLD it is, and worn and battered, As I lift it from the stall; And the leaves are frayed and tattered, And the pendent sides are shattered, Pierced and blackened by a ball. 'Tis the tale of grief and gladness Told by sad St. Pierre of yore, That in front of France's madness Hangs a strange seductive sadness, Grown pathetic evermore. And a perfume round it hovers, As I read I marvel whether, Nooked-secluded from espial, Did Love slip and snare them so, While the hours danced round the dial To the sound of flute and viol, In that pleasant old château ? Did it happen that no single Word of mouth could either speak? Did the brown and gold hair mingle, Did the shamed skin thrill and tingle To the shock of cheek and cheek? Did they feel with that first flushing Of "Savignac" and "Lucile"? |