 | Lyrics (1895) |  |
21
ST. LUKE'S SUMMER AGAIN
A year ago we walked the selfsame road,
Took horse and lingered, dropped from Hedsor Hill,
And watched the slow stream, how it welled and flowed
Beside the timbered mill.
Took horse and lingered, dropped from Hedsor Hill,
And watched the slow stream, how it welled and flowed
Beside the timbered mill.
The stream, the very eddies seem the same,
The hanger nestles in the huge hill's fold,
The cherry-trees in croft and orchard flame,
Or flaunt in green and gold.
The hanger nestles in the huge hill's fold,
The cherry-trees in croft and orchard flame,
Or flaunt in green and gold.
Peace in the valley, peace upon the height;—
She leaned and beckoned from the woodways wet.
We dreamed that we should find her ere the night:
Say, have we found her yet?
She leaned and beckoned from the woodways wet.
We dreamed that we should find her ere the night:
Say, have we found her yet?
22
What have we done to win her? We have schemed
For wealth to buy her, health to seize he charms,
Glory to tempt her, till we almost dreamed
She lay within our arms.
For wealth to buy her, health to seize he charms,
Glory to tempt her, till we almost dreamed
She lay within our arms.
And yet she comes not; like a woodland thing
She breaks in terror from her still retreat;
The clamorous cries that up the valleys ring,
Thunder of hurrying feet,
She breaks in terror from her still retreat;
The clamorous cries that up the valleys ring,
Thunder of hurrying feet,
Have scared her, filled her with bewildered grief;
They that pursue her, can they love her well?
Here by the pool, thickstrewn with fallen leaf
Her flying shadow fell.
They that pursue her, can they love her well?
Here by the pool, thickstrewn with fallen leaf
Her flying shadow fell.
Not in the rage of those insistent shouts,
Not with the flush upon excited cheeks,
Not in the throbbing of a heart that doubts
The half of what it seeks;—
Not with the flush upon excited cheeks,
Not in the throbbing of a heart that doubts
The half of what it seeks;—
23
But when we face the dull laborious day,
Forgo the secret raptures we had planned,
Upon our burdened shoulders she will lay
A firm and strenuous hand.
Forgo the secret raptures we had planned,
Upon our burdened shoulders she will lay
A firm and strenuous hand.
| Lyrics (1895) | |