For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whispered voices in his ear. More close and close his footsteps wind; 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. There rose a noise of striking clocks, And feet that ran, and doors that clapt, And barking dogs, and crowing cocks; A fuller light illumined all, A breeze through all the garden swept, A sudden hubbub shook the hall, The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The parrot screamed, the peacock squalled, The maid and page renewed their strife, The palace banged, and buzzed and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dashed downward in a cataract. And last of all the king awoke, And in his chair himself upreared, And yawned, and rubbed his face, and spoke, "By holy rood, a royal beard! How say you? we have slept, my lords. Pardy," returned the king, "but still In courteous words returned reply: For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whispered voices in his ear. More close and close his footsteps wind; 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. There rose a noise of striking clocks, And feet that ran, and doors that clapt, And barking dogs, and crowing cocks; A fuller light illumined all, A breeze through all the garden swept, A sudden hubbub shook the hall, The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The parrot screamed, the peacock squalled, The maid and page renewed their strife, The palace banged, and buzzed and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dashed downward in a cataract. And last of all the king awoke, And in his chair himself upreared, And yawned, and rubbed his face, and spoke, "By holy rood, a royal beard! How say you? we have slept, my lords. 'Pardy," returned the king, "but still The chancellor, sedate and vain, In courteous words returned reply: But dallied with his golden chain, For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whispered voices in his ear. More close and close his footsteps wind; 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. There rose a noise of striking clocks, And feet that ran, and doors that clapt, And barking dogs, and crowing cocks; A fuller light illumined all, A breeze through all the garden swept, A sudden hubbub shook the hall, |