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So spake the Rose and smiled: "within my cup All day the sunbeams fall in flame, all day

They drink my sweetness up!"

"I sigh my soul away!"

The Lily said: "all night the moonbeams pale Steal round and round me, whispering in their play An all too tender tale !".

"I give my soul away!"

The Violet said: "the West wind wanders on,
The North wind comes; I know not what they say,
And yet my soul is gone!"

O Poet, burn away

Thy fervent soul! fond Lover at the feet

Of her thou lovest, sigh! dear Christian, pray,

And let the world be sweet!

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OTHING resting in its own completeness
Can have worth or beauty; but alone
Because it leads and tends to further sweetness,
Fuller, higher, deeper than its own.

Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning, Gracious though it be, of her blue hours; But is hidden in her tender leaning

To the Summer's richer wealth of flowers.

Dawn is fair because the mists fade slowly
Into day, which floods the world with light:
Twilight's mystery is so sweet and holy,
Just because it ends in starry night.

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INCOMPLETENESS.

Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow
From strife that in a far-off future lies;
And angel glances (veiled now by life's sorrow)
Draw our hearts to some beloved eyes.

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Learn the mystery of progression duly,

Do not call each glorious change decay;
But know we only hold our treasures truly
When it seems as if they had passed away;

Nor dare to blame GoD's gifts for incompleteness:
In that want their beauty lies; they roll
Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness,
Bearing onwards man's reluctant soul.

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ROBERT BROWNING. 1812.

The Ride from Ghent to Air.

SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he;

I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three :

"Good speed!" cried the watch as the gate-bolts undrew,

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Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through.

Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest,

And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

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