Make me fair when I lie dead on my bed, Perhaps he may come and look upon me dead- Dig my grave for two, with a stone to show it, If he never comes, I shall never know it, CHRISTINA ROSSETTI. A SMILE AND A SIGH. SMILE because the nights are short! And every morning brings such pleasure Of sweet love-making, harmless sport : Love that makes and finds its treasure, Love, treasure without measure. A sigh because the days are long! Long, long these days that pass in sighing, A burden saddens every song: While time lags which should be flying, CHRISTINA ROSSETTI. PF ever, dear, I might at last the barren victory gain, To think, since think I must of thee, Not otherwise than thou of me. Haply I might Thy chilling coldness, thy disdain, thy pride, Which draw me half reluctant to thy side, With a like meed requite, And I my too fond self despise, Seeing with disenchanted eyes. But now, alas, So fast a prisoner am I to thy love, No power there is that can my chains remove, So sweet the caged hours pass, That if it parted me from thee, Nor would I dare To ask for recompense of love again, If we should burn with equal fire, Full well I know That what I worship is not wholly thee, On yearnings of the cloistered mind, Scorn me then, sweet, I would not thou shouldst leave thy lofty place ; Thy lover should not see thee face to face, But prostrate at thy feet. No recompense, no equal part I seek, Only that thou be strong and I be weak. LEWIS MORRIS. A LOVE-THOUGHT. 3LL down the linden-alley's morning shade Thy form with childly raptures I pursue; A No hazel-bowered brook can seek the glade With steps more joyous or with course more true. But when all haste and hope I reach my goal, I rise exalted on thy moving grace, RICHARD, LORD HOUGHTON. |