 | Lyrical Poems |  |
61
A SONG OF LIFE
For two or three phrases in these stanzas I am indebted to an Ode of great beauty by Ronsard:—a poet who merits more honour than, since his own time, he has received from his countrymen or from foreigners.
'Tis the same sun and stars, my Love,
That o'er our parents shone
Through the brief beauty of their day,
And when we also are as they
Will yet shine on, shine on:—
Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
That o'er our parents shone
Through the brief beauty of their day,
And when we also are as they
Will yet shine on, shine on:—
Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
'Tis the same sun and stars, my Love,
That saw their childish glee;
And rising still, and setting still,
So smiling, and so shouting, will
Their children's children see:—
Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
That saw their childish glee;
And rising still, and setting still,
So smiling, and so shouting, will
Their children's children see:—
Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
62
'Tis the same sun and stars, my Love,
That saw them, worn and gray,
Smile bright and brave on instant Death;
—And who, that breathes our human breath,
Would bear to live for aye?
—Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
That saw them, worn and gray,
Smile bright and brave on instant Death;
—And who, that breathes our human breath,
Would bear to live for aye?
—Then mid the roses let us sing,
As mid the roses they did;
For life will bring no second spring
When summer once is faded.
| Lyrical Poems | |