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Flower o' the thorn

A book of wayside verse: By John Payne
Payne, John (1842-1916)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
  
[Flower o' the thorn]
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ARCADIA IN URBE.
  
INGATE.
  
THE LAND OF THE MORNING-CALM.
  
A FRIEND FROM OVERSEA.
  
THE STREETS IN FLOWER.
  
THE PEACOCK.
  
THE CANAL.
  
LIGHTED WINDOWS.
  
THE GODS IN VICTORIA PARK.
  
ON THE RAILWAY BRIDGE.
  
WIND, RAIN, SUN.
  
THE LILAC.
  
THE HUSH OF DUSK.
  
BIRDS IN SNOWTIME.
  
FELLOW-EXILES.
  
THE SPIRIT-HOUR.
  
A PAUSE OF PEACE.
  
MIST.
  
THE LIMES.
  
NOON.
  
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
  
FACES.
  
ORGAN-DANCERS.
  
SUNDOWN.
  
SNOW FALLS.
  
PIGEONS.
  
LONDON LIGHTNING.
  
RHODODENDRONS.
  
THE CUCKOO'S CALL.
  
BELLS AT DAWN.
  
OUTGATE.
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SUN AND SHADOW.
  
[Out of the shadow into the sun]
  
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
  
THE SEVEN SPELLS.
  
THE AIM OF LIFE.
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BRITANNIA CORAM BARBARIS.
 I. 
[I.]
 II. 
II.
  
THE LEAVES' LESSON.
  
TIME AND HIS TENDERLINGS.
  
THE COMMON HOPE.
  
UNSEASONABLE SUMMER.
  
CORPOSANTS.
  
A VOICE FROM DREAMLAND.
  
SEA-DRIFT.
  
HOMING DREAMS.
  
MAY-MAGIC.
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VARIATIONS ON AN ALPINE THEME.
 I. 
I. THE HOPE OF THE HILLS.
 II. 
II. THE HUSH OF THE HILLS.
 III. 
III. THE HALLUCINATION OF THE HILLS.
 IV. 
IV. THE HONOUR OF THE HILLS.
 V. 
V. THE HUNGER OF THE HILLS.
 VI. 
VI. THE HORROR OF THE HILLS.
 VII. 
VII. THE HALLOWING OF THE HILLS.
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MARTYRS OF HISTORY.
  
XIV. CAIN.
  
XV. JOAB.
  
XI. JESUS OF NAZARETH.
  
XVII. GALLIO .
  
XVIII. VASCO NUNEZ DE BALBOA.
  
XIX. DON QUIXOTE.
  
XX. RALEIGH.
  
XXI. A NAMELESS HERO.
  
VOCES VANAE.
  
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE.
  
THE HONEYSUCKLE.
  
THE SANCTUARY LAMPS.
  
QUEM DEUS VULT PERDERE.
  
DUO IN DESERTIS.
  
THE SOUL'S COLOUR.
  
OLD CYNICS AND NEW.
  
ANNUS VOLUBILIS.
  
THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES.
  
FREDERICK BURNABY.
  
FELIX, INFELIX.
  
PHANTOM QUEST.
  
NESSUN MAGGIOR DOLORE.
  
WALLS OF SEVERANCE.
  
DATUR HORA QUIETI.
  
RESURGENT SORROW.
  
LIFE TRIUMPHANT.
  
DIMENSIO QUARTA.
  
RONSARD TO HIS MISTRESS.
  
ÆTAS PERVERSA.
  
MELIUS SIC.
  
ABRANYI.
  
“NACH RAUM!”
  
LETHE.

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RONSARD TO HIS MISTRESS.

SWEET, if you live, you will grow bowed and grey;
And when a worn old wife you are, with book
And broidery seated in the chimney-nook,
You will bethink you then of what I say
And curse yourself for casting love away.
Far better,—no relent old age will brook,
—With favour now on me it were to look
And love me now, whilst yet your age is May.
For I can keep your eyes for ever blue;
I can immortal make your golden hair,
Your coral lips; yea, I can render you
Immune to Fate's inexorable shears
And with my songs forfend from you, my fair,
Th'irreparable outrage of the years.
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