LOVE'S DIVINE COMEDY

A lover may bestride the gossamer
That idles in the wanton summer air,

And yet not fall.

SHAKESPEARE.

Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,
And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.

POPE.

Love's the noblest frailty of the mind.

DRYDEN.

CX

THOU know'st the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment !
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say "Ay,"
And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries,
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully :
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light:
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was 'ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CXI

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 unclasp'd at night.

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON.

CXII

AT HER WINDOW

BEATING heart! we come again
Where my Love reposes:
This is Mabel's window-pane;
These are Mabel's roses.