YOU ASK ME, WHY, THO' ILL AT EASE

OF OLD SAT FREEDOM ON THE HEIGHTS

LOVE THOU THY LAND, WITH LOVE FAR-BROUGHT

THE GOOSE

PROLOGUE

MOVE EASTWARD, HAPPY EARTH, AND LEAVE

BREAK, BREAK, BREAK

218

SPECIMEN OF A TRANSLATION OF THE ILIAD IN BLANK VERSE 633

THREE SONNETS TO A COQUETTE.

SONG.-"LADY, LET THE ROLLING DRUMS,"

SONG.-"HOME THEY BROUGHT HIM, SLAIN WITH SPEARS,"

637

638

638

CLARIBEL

A MELODY.

1.

WHERE Claribel low-lieth
The breezes pause and die,
Letting the rose-leaves fall:
But the solemn oak-tree sigheth,
Thick-leaved, ambrosial,
With an ancient melody
Of an inward agony,
Where Claribel low-lieth.

2.

At eve the beetle boometh

Athwart the thicket lone: At noon the wild bee hummeth About the moss'd headstone: At midnight the moon cometh, And looketh down alone. Her song the lintwhite swelleth, The clear-voiced mavis dwelleth, The callow throstle lispeth, The slumbrous wave outwelleth,

The babbling runnel crispeti,

The hollow grot replieth
Where Claribel low-lieth.

LILIAN.

AIRY, fairy Lilian,
Flitting, fairy Lilian,

When I ask her if she love me,
Clasps her tiny hands above me,
Laughing all she can ;

She'll not tell me if she love me,
Cruel little Lilian.

When my passion seeks
Pleasance in love-sighs,
She, looking thro' and thro' me
Thoroughly to undo me,

Smiling, never speaks:

So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple,
From beneath her gather'd wimple
Glancing with black-beaded eyes,
Till the lightning laughters dimple
The baby-roses in her cheeks;
Then away she flies.

Prythee weep, May Lilian!
Gayety without eclipse
Wearieth me, May Lilian :
Thro' my very heart it thrilleth
When from crimson-threaded lips
Silver-treble laughter trilleth :
Prythee weep, May Lilian.

Praying all I can,

If prayers will not hush thee,

Airy Lilian,

Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee,
Fairy Lilian.

ISABEL.

1.

EYES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed
With the clear-pointed flame of chastity,
Clear, without heat, undying, tended by

Pure vestal thoughts in the translucent fane