BIDS US REJOICE, LEST PLEASURELESS YE DIE!
WITHIN A LITTLE TIME YE MUST GO BY.-(MORRIS)
STRETCH FORTH YOUR HANDS, AND, WHILE YE LIVE, TAKE ALL THE GIFTS THAT LIFE MAY GIVE.""-MORRIS.
"WHEN SUMMER BRINGS THE LILY AND THE ROSE, SHE BRINGS US FEAR; HER VERY DEATH SHE BRINGS
LOVE WHILE YE MAY; IF TWAIN GROW INTO ONE, -(MORRIS)
Because our memories shall live
When folk forget the way to drive
The black keel through the heaped-up sea,
And half dried up thy waters be.
[From "The Life and Death of Jason," book iv.
THE DEPARTURE OF THE ARGONAUTS.
[Jason and his heroes set out in quest of the Golden Fleece in the good ship
Argo, being the first men who have dared so perilous a voyage.]
UT through the town few eyes were sealed by sleep
When the sun rose; yea, and the upland sheep
Must guard themselves, for that one morn at least,
Against the wolf; and wary doves may feast
Unscared that morning on the ripening corn.
Nor did the whetstone touch the scythe that morn;
["Or the porpoise roll through changing hills and valleys of the sea."]
And all unheeded did the mackerel shoal
Make green the blue waves, or the porpoise roll
Through changing hills and valleys of the sea.
'TIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE; THE TIME GOES BY." MORRIS.
HID IN HER ANXIOUS HEART, THE FORGE OF WOES; AND DULL WITH FEAR, NO MORE THE MAVIS SINGS."-MORRIS.
"O FOOLS! WHEN EACH MAN PLAYS HIS PART AND HEEDS HIS FELLOW LITTLE MORE (MORRIS)
WHAT IS THE FOLLY YE MUST DO (WILLIAM MORRIS)
THE DEPARTURE OF THE ARGONAUTS.
For 'twixt the thronging people solemnly
The heroes went afoot along the way
That led unto the haven of the bay,
And as they went the roses rained on them
From windows glorious with the well-wrought hem
Of many a purple cloth; and all their spears
Were twined with flowers that the fair earth bears;
And round their ladies' tokens were there set
About their helmets, flowery wreaths, still wet
With beaded dew of the scarce vanished night.
So as they passed, the young men at the sight
Shouted for joy, and their hearts swelled with pride;
But scarce the elders could behold dry-eyed
The glorious show, remembering well the days
When they were able too to win their praise,
And in their hearts was hope of days to come.
Nor could the heroes leave their fathers' home
Unwept of damsels, who henceforth must hold
The empty air unto their bosoms cold,
And make their sweet complainings to the night
That heedeth not soft eyes and bosoms white.
And many such an one was there that morn,
Who, with lips parted and gray eyes forlorn,
Stood by the window and forgot to cast
Her gathered flowers as the heroes passed,
But held them still within her garment's hem,
Though many a winged wish she sent to them.
But on they went, and as the way they trod,
His swelling heart nigh made each man a god;
While clashed their armour to the minstrelsy
That went before them to the doubtful sea.
And now, the streets being passed, they reached
Where, by the well-built quay, long Argo lay,
TO WIN SOMe fellow-mortal's HEART?"-W. MORRIS.
THAN THESE BLUE WAVES THAT KISS THE SHORE TAKE HEED OF HOW THE DAISIES GROW."-MORRIS.
"YEA, AND WILL FORTUNE PICK OUT, NOW AND THEN, THE NOBLEST FOR THE ANVIL OF HER BLOWS!"-MORRIS.
THOUGH ON NEW ROSEBUDS THE NEW SUN SHALL SMILE,-(MORRIS)
"THE HAPPY ARE THE MASTERS OF THE EARTH, WHICH EVER GIVE SMALL HEED TO HAPLESS WORTH."-MORRIS.
["And heavy measured beating of the oars: so left the Argo the Thessalian shores."]
Glorious with gold, and shining in the sun.
Then first they shouted, and each man began
Against his shield to strike his brazen spear;
And as along the quays they drew a-near,
Faster they strode and faster, till a cry
Again burst from them, and right eagerly
Into swift running did they break at last,
Till all the wind-swept quay being overpast,
They pressed across the gangway, and filled up
The hollow ship as wine a golden cup.
CAN WE REGAIN WHAT WE HAVE LOST MEANWHILE?"-W. MORRIS.
LIFE FLITTETH FAST, AND WHILE IT STill abides,-(MORRIS)
The lowing of the doomed and flower-crowned beasts,
The plaintive singing of the ancient priests,
Mingled with blare of trumpets, and the sound
Of all the many folk that stood around
The altar and the temple by the sea.
So sat they pondering much and silently,
Till all the landward noises died away,
And, midmost now of the green sunny bay,
They heard no sound but washing of the seas,
And piping of the following western breeze,
And heavy measured beating of the oars:
So left the Argo the Thessalian shores.
[From "The Life and Death of Jason," book iv.]
"DRAG ON, LONG NIGHT OF WINTER, IN WHOSE HEART, NURSE of regret, the DEAD SPRING YET HAS PART!
DRAG ON, O NIGHT OF DREAMS! O NIGHT OF FEARS! FED BY THE SUMMERS OF THE BYGONE YEARS!"-MORRIS.
H, the sweet valley of deep grass,
Where through the summer stream doth
In chain of shallow, and still pool,
From misty morn to evening cool;
Where the black ivy creeps and twines
O'er the dark-armèd, red-trunked pines,
Whence clattering the pigeon flits,
Or, brooding o'er her thin eggs, sits,
And every hollow of the hills
With echoing songs the mavis fills.
There by the stream, all unafraid,
Shall stand the happy shepherd maid,
Alone in first of sunlit hours;
Behind her, on the dewy flowers,
OUR FOLLY MANY A GOOD THING FROM US HIDES. -W. MORRIS.
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