 | Evil May-Day &c |  |
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31
NE QUID NIMIS.
Ye that love astounding phrases,As the fashion of these days is,
Fiery colour, fierce contortion,
Dazzle, glare, and disproportion,
Elsewhere turn you. Ne quid nimis:
Such the motto of my rhyme is.
34
SLEEPY.
O leave me quiet for a thousand years!No duties, troubles, pleasures, hopes or fears,
No sun or moon with sad returning beam,
Only a faintly glimmering world, half dream,
To faintly touch my senses: rest I would,
Forget the tangled life, the bad and good,
And everything that has been,—drinking deep
The freshness of regenerating sleep,
Ages and æons of celestial rest;
To wake—I know not when,—sleep now were best.
40
[Deny not Love and Friendship, tho' long and vainly sought]
Deny not Love and Friendship, tho' long and vainly sought;Thy sad perpetual craving with deepest proof is fraught.
Thou canst be friend and lover; else why thy longing now?
Canst thou be true and tender?—of mortals, only thou?
74
[I and my Love together]
I and my Love together,
Deep in sunny sheen;
Raiment of white innocence
Clothed us on the green.
Deep in sunny sheen;
Raiment of white innocence
Clothed us on the green.
We reclined together,
Musing grave and sweet;
Golden air embraced us,
Blue waves nigh our feet.
Musing grave and sweet;
Golden air embraced us,
Blue waves nigh our feet.
Love be my guardian,
Dreams my heritage!
My Love and I together
In the golden age.
Dreams my heritage!
My Love and I together
In the golden age.
GREAT ANCESTRY.
We sat within a cottage by the waves,
Hearkening to music, voice and instrument,
That floated to the still autumnal night
Starr'd over downs and ocean; and between
Its pulses, boom'd the cadence of the sea
Surge after surge along our island shore.
Hearkening to music, voice and instrument,
That floated to the still autumnal night
Starr'd over downs and ocean; and between
Its pulses, boom'd the cadence of the sea
Surge after surge along our island shore.
Fair the musicians, and the listeners fair.
But I, apart, not merely saw and heard
Those living faces—songs—the sea—the stars;
For two majestic Shades were in the night:
Deep-sounding echoes out of England's past
Commingled vaguely with the murmuring flood;
John Milton's daughters made us melody,
And Cromwell's daughters listen'd while they sang.
But I, apart, not merely saw and heard
Those living faces—songs—the sea—the stars;
For two majestic Shades were in the night:
Deep-sounding echoes out of England's past
Commingled vaguely with the murmuring flood;
John Milton's daughters made us melody,
And Cromwell's daughters listen'd while they sang.
[Freshwater Bay.]
79
[‘Alas, friend, since your journey was begun]
‘Alas, friend, since your journey was begun,How many have outstript you in the race!’
I have not raced at all, nor even run,
But gone along my track at easy pace,
Look'd at the landscapes, gather'd berries, shared
Wayfaring talk, and barter'd song and tale;
Loiter'd to hear the lark or nightingale;
'Twas for the journey, not the goal, I cared.
86
[I'm but a lowly gooseberry]
I'm but a lowly gooseberryHanging on my native tree
Here i' the sunshine of the garden
(For which I humbly beg your pardon)
Just within the children's reach;
Don't be angry with me, pray,
Mister Critic,—did I say,
Ever say I was a peach?
87
[Amy Margaret's five years old]
Amy Margaret's five years old,
Amy Margaret's hair is gold,
Dearer twenty-thousand-fold
Than gold, is Amy Margaret.
Amy Margaret's hair is gold,
Dearer twenty-thousand-fold
Than gold, is Amy Margaret.
“Amy” is friend, is “Margaret”
The pearl for crown or carkanet?
Or peeping daisy, summer's pet?
Which are you, Amy Margaret?
The pearl for crown or carkanet?
Or peeping daisy, summer's pet?
Which are you, Amy Margaret?
A friend, a daisy, and a pearl,
A kindly, simple, precious girl,—
Such, howsoe'er the world may twirl,
Be ever,—Amy Margaret!
A kindly, simple, precious girl,—
Such, howsoe'er the world may twirl,
Be ever,—Amy Margaret!
[I saw a little Birdie fly]
I saw a little Birdie fly,
Merrily piping came he;
“Whom d'ye sing to, Bird?” said I;
“Sing?—I sing to Amy.”
Merrily piping came he;
“Whom d'ye sing to, Bird?” said I;
“Sing?—I sing to Amy.”
“Very sweet you sing,” I said;
“Then,” quoth he, “to pay me,
Give one little crumb of bread,
A little smile from Amy.”
“Then,” quoth he, “to pay me,
Give one little crumb of bread,
A little smile from Amy.”
“Just,” he sings, “one little smile;
O, a frown would slay me!
Thanks, and now I'm gone awhile,—
Fare-you-well, dear Amy!”
O, a frown would slay me!
Thanks, and now I'm gone awhile,—
Fare-you-well, dear Amy!”
88
A MOUNTAIN ROUND.
Take hands, merry neighbours, for dancing the round!Moonlight is fair, and delicious the air.
From valley to valley our music shall sound,
And startle the wolf in his lair.
From summits of snow to the forests below,
Let vulture and crow hear the echoes—O ho! (O ho!)
While shadows on meadows in dancing the round
Go whirligig, pair after pair!
99
LIBER LOQUITUR.
If perchance you like my look,Buy (don't borrow) me, little Book;
Money I was never made for,
But the printing must be paid for;
If you purchase for a groat
Per thousand lines, find one good thought
Per thousand, am I dearly bought?
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