Life of my life, wilt thou not answer this? 'The dusky strand of Death inwoven here With dear Love's tie, makes Love himself more dear.' 8. Is that enchanted moan only the swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay? And hark the clock within, the silver knell But now by this my love has closed her sight May nothing there her maiden grace affright! My own heart's heart and ownest own, farewell. And ye meanwhile far over moor and fell Has our whole earth gone nearer to the glow Of your soft splendours that you look so bright ? I have climb'd nearer out of lonely Hell. Beat, happy stars, timing with things below, Beat with my heart more blest than heart can tell, Blest, but for some dark undercurrent woe That seems to draw-but it shall not be so: Let all be well, be well. XIX. 1. STRANGE, that I felt so gay, To beguile her melancholy; The Sultan, as we name him,— She did not wish to blame himBut he vext her and perplext her With his worldly talk and folly : Was it gentle to reprove her For stealing out of view From a little lazy lover Who but claims her as his due ? Or for chilling his caresses By the coldness of her manners, Nay, the plainness of her dresses? Now I know her but in two, Nor can pronounce upon it If one should ask me whether The habit, hat, and feather, Or the frock and gipsy bonnet For nothing can be sweeter Than maiden Maud in either. 2. But to morrow, if we live, Our ponderous squire will give A grand political dinner To half the squirelings near; And Maud will wear her jewels, And the bird of prey will hover, And the titmouse hope to win her With his chirrup at her ear. 3. A grand political dinner A gathering of the Tory, A dinner and then a dance For the maids and marriage-makers, And every eye but mine will glance At Maud in all her glory. 4 For I am not invited, But, with the Sultan's pardon, I am all as well delighted, For I know her own rose-garden, And mean to linger in it Till the dancing will be over; And then, oh then, come out to me For a minute, but for a minute, Come out to your own true lover, |