Part 99

And the trails that run to the westward Are shot with fire, And the winds hurl from the headland With ancient ire; And all my body itches With an old desire.

So I'll deal no more in women And the softness of night, But I'll follow the red adventure And the wind's flight; And I'll sing of the sea and of battle And of men's might.

Willard Huntington Wright [18

SONG OF THYRSIS

The turtle on yon withered bough, That lately mourned her murdered mate, Has found another comrade now - Such changes all await! Again her drooping plume is drest, Again she's willing to be blest And takes her lover to her nest.

If nature has decreed it so With all above, and all below, Let us like them forget our woe, And not be killed with sorrow. If I should quit your arms to-night And chance to die before 'twas light, I would advise you - and you might - Love again to-morrow.

Philip Freneau [1752-1832]

THE TEST

I held her hand, the pledge of bliss, Her hand that trembled and withdrew; She bent her head before my kiss . . . My heart was sure that hers was true. Now I have told her I must part, She shakes my hand, she bids adieu, Nor shuns the kiss. Alas, my heart! Hers never was the heart for you.

Walter Savage Landor [1775-1864]

"THE FAULT IS NOT MINE"

The fault is not mine if I love you too much, I loved you too little too long, Such ever your graces, your tenderness such, And the music the heart gave the tongue.

A time is now coming when Love must be gone, Though he never abandoned me yet. Acknowledge our friendship, our passion disown, Our follies (ah can you?) forget.

Walter Savage Lander [1775-1864]

THE SNAKE

My love and I, the other day, Within a myrtle arbor lay, When near us, from a rosy bed, A little Snake put forth its head.

"See," said the maid, with laughing eyes - "Yonder the fatal emblem lies! Who could expect such hidden harm Beneath the rose's velvet charm?"

Never did moral thought occur In more unlucky hour than this; For oh! I just was leading her To talk of love and think of bliss.

I rose to kill the snake, but she In pity prayed it might not be. "No," said the girl - and many a spark Flashed from her eyelid as she said it - "Under the rose, or in the dark, One might, perhaps, have cause to dread it; But when its wicked eyes appear, And when we know for what they wink so, One must be very simple, dear, To let it sting one - don't you think so?"

Thomas Moore [1779-1852]

"WHEN I LOVED YOU"

When I loved you, I can't but allow I had many an exquisite minute; But the scorn that I feel for you now Hath even more luxury in it!

Thus, whether we're on or we're off, Some witchery seems to await you; To love you is pleasant enough, And oh! 'tis delicious to hate you!

Thomas Moore [1779-1852]

A TEMPLE TO FRIENDSHIP

"A temple to Friendship," said Laura, enchanted, "I'll build in this garden, - the thought is divine!" Her temple was built, and she now only wanted An image of Friendship to place on the shrine. She flew to a sculptor, who set down before her A Friendship, the fairest his art could invent; But so cold and so dull, that the youthful adorer Saw plainly this was not the idol she meant.

"O never," she cried, "could I think of enshrining An image whose looks are so joyless and dim: - But yon little god, upon roses reclining, We'll make, if you please, sir, a Friendship of him." So the bargain was struck. With the little god laden She joyfully flew to her shrine in the grove: "Farewell," said the sculptor, "you're not the first maiden Who came but for Friendship and took away Love!"

Thomas Moore [1779-1852]