A MAN'S RequiremeNTS. 49 VII. Love me with thy thinking soul Love me with thy thoughts that roll VIII. Love me in thy gorgeous airs, When the world has crowned thee! Love me, kneeling at thy prayers, With the angels round thee. IX. Love me pure, as musers do, As a winsome lady. X. Through all hopes that keep us brave, Further off or nigher, Love me for the house and grave, And for something higher. XI. Thus, if thou wilt prove me, dear, WISDOM UNAPPLIED. I. F I were thou, O butterfly, IF And poised my purple wings, to spy The sweetest flowers that live and die, II. I would not waste my strength on those, As thou, for summer hath a close, And pansies bloom not in the snows. III. If I were thou, O working bee, IV. I would not hive it at man's door, As thou, - that heirdom of my store Should make him rich, and leave me poor. V. If I were thou, O eagle proud, And screamed the thunder back aloud, VI. I would not build my eyrie-throne, As thou, upon a crumbling stone, Which the next storm may trample down. WISDOM UNAPPLIED. VII. If I were thou, O gallant steed, VIII. I would not meeken to the rein, IX. If I were thou, red-breasted bird, Whose song 's at shut-up window heard, X. I would not overstay delight, As thou, but take a swallow-flight, Till the new spring returned to sight. XI. While yet I spake, a touch was laid XII. "If I were thou who sing'st this song, Most wise for others, and most strong In seeing right, while doing wrong, 51 XIII. "I would not waste my cares, and choose, As thou, to seek what thou must lose, Such gains as perish in the use. XIV. "I would not work where none can win, As thou, half way 'twixt grief and sin, But look above, and judge within. XV. "I would not let my pulse beat high, As thou, toward fame's regality, - Nor yet in love's great jeopardy. XVI. "I would not champ the hard cold bit, As thou, of what the world thinks fit, But take God's freedom, using it. XVII. "I would not play earth's winter out, XVIII. “Then sing, O singer! — but allow Beast, fly, and bird, called foolish now, Are wise (for all thy scorn) as thou!" A VALEDICTION. 53 INSUFFICIENCY. I. THERE is no one beside thee, and no one above thee: Thou standest alone, as the nightingale sings! Yet my words that would praise thee are impotent things, For none can express thee, though all should approve thee! I love thee so, Dear, that I only can love thee. II. Say, what can I do for thee? grieve thee? weary thee. Lean on thy shoulder . . . new burdens to add? GOD A VALEDICTION. OD be with thee, my beloved, - God be with thee! Thy face unto the north, Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee, Looking equal in one snow! While I, who try to reach thee, Vainly follow, vainly follow, |