 | The defence of Rome |  |
61
A GARDEN FABLE.
A bird once loved a flower,
The flower shrank afraid;
Her life so brief an hour
Had gemmed the garden glade.
The flower shrank afraid;
Her life so brief an hour
Had gemmed the garden glade.
Each day the bird returning
Sang to her long and long:
More tender notes and burning
Were never poured in song.
Sang to her long and long:
More tender notes and burning
Were never poured in song.
Still seemed she unrelenting,
Though half her heart was won:
Heart-chilled, the bird lamenting
Flew forth through wind and sun.
Though half her heart was won:
Heart-chilled, the bird lamenting
Flew forth through wind and sun.
62
Quick goer and quick comer,
He roved with changing flight;
In cares and joys of summer
Forgot his first delight.
He roved with changing flight;
In cares and joys of summer
Forgot his first delight.
Of many a phase and fashion
The after songs he sung,
But ne'er so pure a passion
As when the year was young.
The after songs he sung,
But ne'er so pure a passion
As when the year was young.
The flower still unfolding
Beneath the lengthening days
Gathered from all beholding
Wonder and love and praise.
Beneath the lengthening days
Gathered from all beholding
Wonder and love and praise.
Yet still her heart was lonely;
Though gayer birds might sing,
One voice she longed for only,
That voice she heard in spring.
Though gayer birds might sing,
One voice she longed for only,
That voice she heard in spring.
63
But when the winter slew her
She ne'er had heard again
That song the west wind blew her,
That pure and eager strain.
She ne'er had heard again
That song the west wind blew her,
That pure and eager strain.
| The defence of Rome | |