It were enough to feel, to see, And dream the rest-and burn and be Couldst thou but be as thou hast been. After the slumber of the year And sky and sea, but two, which move, PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. XXI A CONQUEST I FOUND him openly wearing her token; I laid my hand on the hilt of my sword, He did the same, and he spoke no word; 66 He laughed, and said, She gave it me. We searched for seconds, they soon were found; They measured our swords; they measured the ground: WALTER HERRIES POLLOCK. XXII TO JULIET FAREWELL, then. It is finished. I forego How much I loved you. With you disappears What you may be henceforth I will not know. If not forgiven. Yet stay to bless. See, I came to curse, I know not which is worse. XXIII WALY, WALY O WALY, waly, up the bank, Where I and my love were wont to gae ! I thocht it was a trusty tree, But first it bowed and syne it brak', Sae my true love did lichtlie me. O waly, waly, but love be bonnie, A little time while it is new! And fadeth away like the morning dew. Noo Arthur's Seat sall be my bed, The sheets sall ne'er be pressed by me; 'Tis not the frost that freezes fell, Nor blawing snaw's inclemencie, But my love's heart grown cauld to me. But had I wist before I kiss'd That love had been sae ill to win, And set upon the nurse's knee; And the green grass growing over me! UNKNOWN. XXIV BARBARA ON the Sabbath-day, Through the churchyard old and gray, Over the crisp and yellow leaves I held my rustling way: And amid the words of mercy, falling on my soul like balms, 'Mid the gorgeous storms of music-in the mellow organcalms, 'Mid the upward-streaming prayers, and the rich and solemn psalms, I stood careless, Barbara. My heart was otherwhere While the organ shook the air, And the priest, with outspread hands, blest the people with a prayer; But, when rising to go homeward, with a mild and saintlike shine Gleamed a face of airy beauty with its heavenly eyes on mine Gleamed and vanished in a moment-O that face was surely thine Out of heaven, Barbara! O pallid, pallid face! O earnest eyes of grace! When last I saw thee, dearest, it was in another place. You came running forth to meet me with my love-gift on your wrist : The flutter of a long white dress, then all was lost in mist A purple stain of agony was on the mouth I kissed, I searched, in my despair, Sunny noon and midnight air; I could not drive away the thought that you were lingering there. O many and many a winter night I sat when you were gone, My worn face buried in my hands, beside the fire aloneWithin the dripping churchyard, the rain plashing on the stone, You were sleeping, Barbara. 'Mong angels, do you think Of the precious golden link I clasped around your happy arm while sitting by yon brink? Or when that night of gliding dance, of laughter and guitars, Was emptied of its music, and we watched, through latticed bars, The silent midnight heaven creeping o'er us with its stars, Till the day broke, Barbara? In the years I've changed; Wild and far my heart hath ranged, And many sins and errors now have been on me avenged; But to you I have been faithful, whatsoever good I lacked : I loved you, and above my life still hangs that love intact— Your love the trembling rainbow, I the reckless cataract— Still I love you, Barbara. Yet, love, I am unblest; With many doubts opprest, I wander like a desert wind, without a place of rest. Could I but win you for an hour from off that starry shore, |