Minuscula Lyrics of Nature, Art and Love. By Francis William Bourdillon |
 | I. |
 | II. |
| Lost Leaves of the Greek Anthology |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | Minuscula |  |
49
Lost Leaves of the Greek Anthology
[Halcyon, by the gods' decree]
Halcyon, by the gods' decree,
For her love and sorrow's wage,
Nesteth in a summer sea,
Though the winter round doth rage.
For her love and sorrow's wage,
Nesteth in a summer sea,
Though the winter round doth rage.
Since the gods love lovers so,
They may jest at fortune's jars;
Ports they have no pilots know,
And in storm behold the stars.
They may jest at fortune's jars;
Ports they have no pilots know,
And in storm behold the stars.
[From earthy crust]
From earthy crust
The crystal core:
From livid rust
The shining ore:
The crystal core:
From livid rust
The shining ore:
From natural lust,
Refined thrice o'er,
Love the august
Which gods adore.
Refined thrice o'er,
Love the august
Which gods adore.
50
[A feeble hand can spoil the flowers]
A feeble hand can spoil the flowersThat once were all the garden's joy:
And lives so bright as once were ours
Are spoilt by Love—a little boy.
(With a mirror)
I send thee, love, for thy sole view,A picture of my heart most true,
A portrait marvellous indeed,
A secret thou alone canst read,
For thou alone beholdest there
What always in my heart I bear.
[So sweet is my love's name that all]
So sweet is my love's name that all
Seem, chancing in the ways
Another by this name to call,
To crown her with full praise.
Seem, chancing in the ways
Another by this name to call,
To crown her with full praise.
51
The lyre of Love I locked away,
Its chords were bright and true.
Is not to-morrow as to-day,
To sing Love's service due?
Its chords were bright and true.
Is not to-morrow as to-day,
To sing Love's service due?
In rust and dust I turned the key
To take again my lyre:
The tuneful shell was cracked, ah me!
And broke each golden wire.
To take again my lyre:
The tuneful shell was cracked, ah me!
And broke each golden wire.
[Woman is like the Sea, y-wis]
Woman is like the Sea, y-wisThat changes every hour, but is
The same through all the centuries.
52
| Minuscula | |