THE ARRIVAL. ALL precious things, discover'd late, For love in sequel works with fate. And draws the veil from hidden worth. He travels far from other skies. His mantle glitters on the rocks A fairy Prince, with joyful eyes, And lighter-footed than the fox. The bodies and the bones of those That strove in other days to pass, Are wither'd in the thorny close, Or scatter'd blanching in the grass. He gazes on the silent dead: "They perish'd in their daring deeds." This proverb flashes thro' his head, "The many fail: the one succeeds." He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks: He breaks the hedge: he enters there : The colour flies into his cheeks: He trusts to light on something fair; For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whisper'd voices in his ear. More close and close his footsteps wind; The magic music in his heart Beats quick and quicker, till he find The quiet chamber far apart. His spirit flutters like a lark, He stoops- to kiss her on his knee. "Love, if thy tresses be so dark, How dark those hidden eyes must be!" THE REVIVAL. A TOUCH, a kiss! the charm was snapt. A breeze thro' all the garden swept, And sixty feet the fountain leapt. The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The fire shot up, the martin flew, The parrot scream'd, the peacock squall'd, The maid and page renew'd their strife, The palace bang'd and buzz'd and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dash'd downward in a cataract. And last of all the king awoke, And in his chair himself uprear'd, And yawn'd, and rubb'd his face, and spoke, 66 "By holy rood, a royal beard! How say you? we have slept, my lords. My beard has grown into my lap." The barons swore, with many words, 'Twas but an after-dinner's nap. 66 Pardy," return'd the king, "but still My joints are something stiff or so. My lord, and shall we pass the bill I mention'd half an hour ago?" The chancellor, sedate and vain, In courteous words return'd reply; But dallied with his golden chain, And, smiling, put the question by. THE DEPARTURE. AND on her lover's arm she leant, And round her waist she felt it fold, And far across the hills they went In that new world which is the old: Across the hills and far away Beyond their utmost purple rim, And deep into the dying day The happy princess follow'd him. “I'd sleep another hundred years, "O love, 'twas such as this and this." And o'er them many a sliding star, And many a merry wind was borne, And, stream'd thro' many a golden bar, The twilight melted into morn. |