When the drowsy world is dreaming, love! To lengthen our days, Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear! Now all the world is sleeping, love, But the Sage, his star-watch keeping, love, Is the More glorious far, eye from that casement peeping, love. Of bodies of light, He might happen to take thee for one, my dear. SOVEREIGN WOMAN. 橋 A BALLAD. HE dance was o'er, yet still in dreams That fairy scene went on; Like clouds still flush'd with daylight gleams, Though day itself is gone. And gracefully, to music's sound, The same bright nymphs went gliding round; While thou, the Queen of all, wert there- The dream then changed-in halls of state, I saw thee high enthroned; In thee their mistress own'd: And still the same, thy gentle sway Till all confess'd the Right Divine To rule o'er man was only thine. But, lo! the scene now changed again— I saw thee o'er the battle-plain Our land's defenders lead; And stronger in thy beauty's charms, Than man, with countless hosts in arms, Thy voice, like music, cheer'd the Free, Thy very smile was victory! Nor reign such queens on thrones alone In cot and court the same, Wherever woman's smile is known, Victoria's still her name. For though she almost blush to reign, Disguise our bondage as we will, 'Tis woman, woman, rules us still. SONG OF THE POCO-CURANTE SOCIETY. Haud curat Hippoclides.-ERASM. Adag. O those we love we've drank to-night; Of those for whom WE CARE NOT. For royal men, howe'er they frown, For slavish men, who bend beneath For priestly men, who covet sway And wealth, though they declare not; Who point, like finger-posts, the way They never go-WE CARE NOT. For martial men, who on their sword, For legal men, who plead for wrong, For courtly men, who feed upon The land, like grubs, and spare not The smallest leaf, where they can sun Their crawling limbs-WE CARE NOT. For wealthy men, who keep their mines For prudent men, who hold the power For all, in short, on land or sea, In camp or court, who are not, Who never were, or e'er will be Good men and true-WE CARE NOT. |