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147
THE HOUSELEEK.
Green houseleek, whose fair lady-love
Is my white dove,
Peer down from our slant tilèd roof and see
If in my garden any flower or tree
Grows but for me!
Is my white dove,
Peer down from our slant tilèd roof and see
If in my garden any flower or tree
Grows but for me!
Else will I scatter yellow peas,
And at my ease
Will woo thy soft companion to my feet,
And in the darkness of my safe retreat
Feel her heart beat;
And at my ease
Will woo thy soft companion to my feet,
And in the darkness of my safe retreat
Feel her heart beat;
148
And shut her in a golden cage,
And mock thy rage,
Till thy red spikes of blossom day by day
Beneath the winds and autumn suns decay,
And fade away.
And mock thy rage,
Till thy red spikes of blossom day by day
Beneath the winds and autumn suns decay,
And fade away.
Round houseleek, squat upon the tiles,
For miles and miles
Thou canst gaze far and wide; look down for me
And tell me what thy cunning leaf can see,
Harsh though it be.
For miles and miles
Thou canst gaze far and wide; look down for me
And tell me what thy cunning leaf can see,
Harsh though it be.
The roses only live for pride;
The lilies died
Because the rough moth troubled their pure bells;
Deep down within the columbine's blue cells
Some sadness dwells.
The lilies died
Because the rough moth troubled their pure bells;
Deep down within the columbine's blue cells
Some sadness dwells.
149
The jonquils only breathe for God;
A footstep trod
The hopeful-hearted pansy down to death;
The honeysuckle overlavisheth
Her rich and luscious breath.
A footstep trod
The hopeful-hearted pansy down to death;
The honeysuckle overlavisheth
Her rich and luscious breath.
Only the violet I trust:
Surely she must,
Being so sweet, so modest and so free,
And knowing how I love her utterly,
Be true to me?
Surely she must,
Being so sweet, so modest and so free,
And knowing how I love her utterly,
Be true to me?
O tell me, houseleek, thou must know,
Say, is it so?
Then may thy dove's pink feet upon the eaves
Perch all day long beside thy patient leaves,
While her throat grieves.
Say, is it so?
Then may thy dove's pink feet upon the eaves
Perch all day long beside thy patient leaves,
While her throat grieves.
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