FROM THE THIRD BOOK OF LAWES'S AYRES. FAIN would I love, but that I fear The fair one she 's a mark to all, A face made up Out of no other shop Than what Nature's white hand sets ope Sydneian showers Of sweet discourse, whose powers Can crown old Winter's head with flowers. Whate'er delight Can make day's forehead bright Or give down to the wings of night. Nature did her so much right As e'er yet embraced a heart. Wit she hath, without desier To make known how much she hath ; And her anger flames no higher Than may fitly sweeten wrath. Reason masters every sense, And her virtues grace her birth; Lovely as all excellence, Modest in her most of mirth. Likelihood enough to prove Only worth could kindle love. Such she is; and if you know Such a one as I have sung; That she be but somewhat young; WILLIAM BROWNE. LOVE ME LITTLE, LOVE ME LONG. ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN 1569. LOVE me little, love me long! Still I would not have thee cold,- Fadeth not in haste. If thou lovest me too much, I'm with little well content, Say thou lovest me, while thou live While that life endures; Nay, and after death, in sooth, Constant love is moderate ever, A suit of durance let it be, Winter's cold or summer's heat, Never can rebel : SHE moves as light across the grass As moves my shadow large and tall; And like my shadow, close yet free, The thought of her aye follows me, My little maid of Moreton Hall. No matter how or where we loved, Her pedigree-good sooth, 't is long! As meek she glides through Moreton Hall. Whilst I have-nothing; save, perhaps, I laugh; she laughs; the hills and vales We let the neighbors talk their fill, For life is sweet, and love is strong, And two, close knit in marriage ties, The whole world's shams may well despise, Its folly, madness, shame, and wrong. And this new loving sets the groove Too much the way of loathing. IX. "Unless he gives me all in change, X. "He's sweetest friend, or hardest foe, Best angel, or worst devil; I either hate or... love him so, I can't be merely civil ! XI. "You trust a woman who puts forth Her blossoms thick as summer's? You think she dreams what love is worth, Who casts it to new-comers? XII. "Such love's a cowslip-ball to fling, A moment's pretty pastime ; I give... all me, if anything, The first time and the last time. XIII. "Dear neighbor of the trellised house, A man should murmur never, Though treated worse than dog and mouse, Till doted on forever!" ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. That thou hast kept a portion back, Is there within thy heart a need Lives there within thy nature hid On all things new and strange? But shield my heart against thine own. Couldst thou withdraw thy hand one day That fate, and that to-day's mistake, Not thou, had been to blame? Nay, answer not, — I dare not hear, ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER. A WOMAN'S QUESTION. I break all slighter bonds, nor feel Is there one link within the past Or is thy faith as clear and free Does there within thy dimmest dreams Wherein thy life could henceforth breathe, If so, at any pain or cost, O, tell me before all is lost! Look deeper still: if thou canst feel, THE LADY'S "YES." "YES," I answered you last night; "No," this morning, sir, I say. Colors seen by candle-light Will not look the same by day. When the viols played their best, Lamps above, and laughs below, Love me sounded like a jest, Fit for yes or fit for no. Call me false or call me free, Vow, whatever light may shine, No man on your face shall see Any grief for change on mine. Yet the sin is on us both; Time to dance is not to woo; Wooing light makes fickle troth Scorn of me recoils on you. Learn to win a lady's faith Nobly, as the thing is high, Bravely, as for life and death, With a loyal gravity. |