XII -Ah, but the fresher faces! "Is it true," Thou 'lt ask, 66 some eyes are beautiful and new? "Some hair,-how can one choose but grasp such wealth? "And if a man would press his lips to lips "Fresh as the wilding hedge-rose-cup there slips "The dew-drop out of, must it be by stealth? XIII "It cannot change the love still kept for Her, "More than if such a picture I prefer "Passing a day with, to a room's bare side: "The painted form takes nothing she possessed, "Yet, while the Titian's Venus lies at rest, "A man looks. Once more, what is there to chide? XIV So must I see, from where I sit and watch, Its warrant to the very thefts from me- Thy man's-truth I was bold to bid God see! XV Love so, then, if thou wilt! Give all thou canst (Say it and think it) obdurate no more: XVI Re-coin thyself and give it them to spend,- Since mine thou wast, mine art, and mine shalt be, Faithful or faithless: sealing up the sum Back to the heart's place here I keep for thee! XVII Only, why should it be with stain at all? Put any kiss of pardon on thy brow? XVIII Might I die last and show thee! Should I find If free to take and light my lamp, and go The better that they are so blank, I know! XIX Why, time was what I wanted, to turn o'er By heart each word, too much to learn at first; XX And yet thou art the nobler of us two : What dare I dream of, that thou canst not do, Outstripping my ten small steps with one stride? I'll say then, here's a trial and a task ; Is it to bear?-if easy, I'll not ask: Though love fail, I can trust on in thy pride. XXI Pride?-when those eyes forestall the life behind The death I have to go through !-when I find, Now that I want thy help most, all of thee! What did I fear? Thy love shall hold me fast Until the little minute's sleep is past And I wake saved.-And yet it will not be ! IN A YEAR. I NEVER any more, While I live, Need I hope to see his face As before. Once his love grown chill, Mine may strive : Bitterly we re-embrace, II Was it something said, Something done, Vexed him? was it touch of hand, Turn of head? Strange! that very way Love begun : I as little understand Love's decay. III When I sewed or drew, I recall How he looked as if I sung, -Sweetly too. And the passion I had raised, To content. Since he chose to change Gold for dust, If I gave him what he praised VIII Would he loved me yet, On and on, While I found some way undreamed -Paid my debt! Gave more life and more, Till all gone, He should smile "She never seemed "Mine before. IX “What, she felt the while, "Must I think? "Love 's so different with us men!" He should smile : "Dying for my sake "White and pink! 'Can't we touch these bubbles then "But they break?" X Dear, the pang is brief, Do thy part, Have thy pleasure! How perplexed Grows belief! Well, this cold clay clod Was man's heart: Crumble it, and what comes next? Is it God? |