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35
THE EVE OF BATTLE
1651
Give me thy thoughts, my gentle maid,
And I will lend them wings
To soar elate above this world
Of transitory things.
And I will lend them wings
To soar elate above this world
Of transitory things.
Give me thy virgin dreams, and I
Will give their shyness song,
Shall rise as with an angel's flight
That doth for heaven long.
Will give their shyness song,
Shall rise as with an angel's flight
That doth for heaven long.
And I will praise thee, dear, so well
That thou wilt wish to be
The lover of thy perfect self,
And coyly envy me.
That thou wilt wish to be
The lover of thy perfect self,
And coyly envy me.
Or I will close my eyes, and lie
Upon thy breast, to hear
How daring is that modest heart
When eyes are none to fear;
Upon thy breast, to hear
How daring is that modest heart
When eyes are none to fear;
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And I will wait till brooding love
Hath some new sweet matured,
As bides at eve the patient flower
Of dewy hopes assured;
Hath some new sweet matured,
As bides at eve the patient flower
Of dewy hopes assured;
But if a clouded moment's dread
Forbid love's dew to fall,
I'll know to hear what words I will
In love's confessional.
Forbid love's dew to fall,
I'll know to hear what words I will
In love's confessional.
Or I will learn to share thy mood,
And silent think a space
How dear a little loss will make
Thy undiminished grace.
And silent think a space
How dear a little loss will make
Thy undiminished grace.
And from the harbour of thy breast
Shall sail joy-freighted ships
To seek, on daring ventures bent,
The fair port of thy lips.
Shall sail joy-freighted ships
To seek, on daring ventures bent,
The fair port of thy lips.
Alas! alas! the trumpet calls;
God help thy tender fears!
Ah, love would not be half of love
Had it not also tears!
God help thy tender fears!
Ah, love would not be half of love
Had it not also tears!
Last night you kissed my shining blade,
And by the King I swore
That kiss should go where never kiss
Hath ever gone before.
And by the King I swore
That kiss should go where never kiss
Hath ever gone before.
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You tied upon my helmet front
A lock of flowing gold;
By heaven! he'll have luck that rides
Before that pennon bold.
A lock of flowing gold;
By heaven! he'll have luck that rides
Before that pennon bold.
Ah! wilt thou ride in thought with me
Amid the Roundhead press,
I warrant thee full courteous room
Around my lady's tress.
Amid the Roundhead press,
I warrant thee full courteous room
Around my lady's tress.
I kneel, dear heart; for one last kiss
Shall be a prayer to bring
God's blessing on the arms that strike
For God and for the King.
Shall be a prayer to bring
God's blessing on the arms that strike
For God and for the King.
Good night! Again the trumpet calls;
Now be thy heart as light
As that with which we gallants ride.
God bless thee, dear. Good night!
Now be thy heart as light
As that with which we gallants ride.
God bless thee, dear. Good night!
1897.
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