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, 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! OTHING resting in its own completeness 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 INCOMPLETENESS. Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow Learn the mystery of progression duly, Do not call each glorious change decay; Nor dare to blame GoD's gifts for incompleteness: 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, 66 Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through. Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast. |