The slender acacia would not shake One long milk-bloom on the tree; The white lake-blossom fell into the lake, As the pimpernel dozed on the lea; But the rose was awake all night for your sake, Knowing your promise to me; The lilies and roses were all awake, They sighed for the dawn and thee. Queen rose of the rosebud garden of girls. Come hither, the dances are done, In gloss of satin and glimmer of pearls, Queen lily and rose in one; Shine out, little head, sunning over with curls, To the flowers, and be their sun. There has fallen a splendid tear From the passion-flower at the gate. She is coming, my dove, my dear; She is coming, my life, my fate; The red rose cries, She is near, she is near;" And the white rose weeps, "She is late;" The larkspur listens, "I hear, I hear;" And the lily whispers, "I wait." She is coming, my own, my sweet; Had I lain for a century dead: Would start and tremble under her feet, And blossom in purple and red. [From Maud.] GO NOT, HAPPY DAY. Go not, happy day, From the shining fields, Go not, happy day, Till the maiden yields. Rosy is the West, Rosy is the South, Roses are her cheeks, And a rose her mouth. When the happy Yes Over seas at rest, Blush it through the West, Till the red man dance By his red cedar-tree. And the red man's babe Leap, beyond the sea. Blush from West to East, Blush from East to West, Till the West is East, Blush it through the West. Rosy is the West, Rosy is the South, Roses are her cheeks, And a rose her mouth. THE DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR. FULL knee-deep lies the winter snow, And the winter winds are wearily sighing: Toll ye the church-bell sad and slow, Old year, you must not die: He lieth still; he doth not move; He frothed his bumpers to the brim; He was a friend to me. Old year; you shall not die: He was full of joke and jest, His son and heir doth ride post-haste, But he'll be dead before. Every one for his own. The night is starry and cold, my friend, And the new year, blithe and bold, my friend, Comes up to take his own. How hard he breathes! over the snow 'Tis nearly twelve o'clock. Shake hands before you die. COME NOT WHEN I AM DEAD. COME not when I am dead, To drop thy foolish tears upon my grave, To trample round my fallen head, And vex the unhappy dust thou wouldst not save. There let the wind sweep and the plover cry; But thou go by. Child, if it were thine error or thy crime Wed whom thou wilt, but I am sick I care no longer, being all unblest: of Time, And I desire to rest. Pass on, weak heart, and leave me where I lie: Go by, go by. CIRCUMSTANCE. Two children in two neighbor villages [leas: Playing mad pranks along the healthy With self-wrought evil of unnum- Two strangers meeting at a festival: Two lovers whispering by an orchard wall: bered years, And doth the fruit of her dishonor reap. And all the day heaven gathers back her tears Into her own blue eyes so clear and deep, And showering down the glory of lightsome day, Smiles on the earth's worn brow to win her if she may. Two lives bound fast in one with golden ease: Two graves grass-green beside a gray church-tower Washed with still rains and daisyblossomed; Two children in one hamlet born and bred: [to hour. So runs the round of life from hour WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. ALTHOUGH I enter not, AT THE CHURCH-GATE. The minster-bell tolls out And noise and humming; They've hushed the minster-bell, The organ 'gins to swell, She's coming,- coming! |