Maiden Eyes But when stars and twilight meet, And thou hear'st my coming feet,— 609 Charles Swain [1801-1874] ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS? WE see them not-we cannot hear The music of their wing— Yet know we that they sojourn near, They glide along this lovely ground I gather it for thy dear breast, From stain and shadow free: That which an Angel's touch hath blest Is meet, my love, for thee! Robert Stephen Hawker [1803-1875] MAIDEN EYES You never bade me hope, 'tis true; The vow should bind, with maiden sighs But that which looks from maiden eyes Should last of all be broken. Gerald Griffin [1803-1840] SONG How many times do I love thee, dear? Of a new-fallen year, Whose white and sable hours appear How many times do I love again? Of evening rain, Unraveled from the tumbling main, And threading the eye of a yellow star: So many times do I love again. Thomas Lovell Beddoes [1803-1849] 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, Call me false or call me free, No man on your face shall see 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. Song Learn to win a lady's faith Nobly, as the thing is high, Bravely, as for life and death, With a loyal gravity. Lead her from the festive boards, By your truth she shall be true, SHALL be Yes for evermore. 611 Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806-1861] SONG From "The Miller's Daughter " IT is the miller's daughter, And she is grown so dear, so dear, That I would be the jewel That trembles in her ear; For hid in ringlets day and night, I'd touch her neck so warm and white. And I would be the girdle About her dainty, dainty waist, And her heart would beat against me, In sorrow and in rest; And I should know if it beat right, I'd clasp it round so close and tight. And I would be the necklace, And all day long to fall and rise Upon her balmy bosom With her laughter or her sighs; And I would lie so light, so light, I scarce should be unclasped at night. LILIAN AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Clasps her tiny hand above me, Laughing all she can; She'll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian. When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs, She, looking through and through me, Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, Prithee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse Wearieth me, May Lilian: Through my very heart it thrilleth, When from crimson-threaded lips Silver-treble laughter thrilleth: Prithee weep, May Lilian! Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian. Alfred Tennyson [1809-1892] Ronsard to His Mistress 613 BUGLE SONG From "The Princess THE splendor falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story: The long light shakes across the lakes, And the wild cataract leaps in glory. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, O hark, O hear! how thin and clear, O sweet and far from cliff and scar The horns of Elfland faintly blowing! O love, they die in yon rich sky, They faint on hill or field or river: Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow for ever and for ever. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, RONSARD TO HIS MISTRESS Quand vous serez bien vieille, le soir à la chandelle SOME winter night, shut snugly in I think I see you sit and spin, Surrounded by your maidens all. |