Fair Ines "Oh, name it not:-though guilt and shame Were on thy name, I'd still be true: But that heart of thine-should another share it I could not bear it! What would I do!" "What would you do, love, when home returning With hopes high burning, With wealth for you, If my bark, which bounded o'er foreign foam, Ah! what would you do?" "So thou wert spared, I'd bless the morrow, In want and sorrow, That left me you; And I'd welcome thee from the wasting billow, This heart thy pillow That's what I'd do!" 939 Samuel Lover [1797-1868] FAIR INES Q SAW ye not fair Ines? She's gone into the West, O turn again, fair Ines, Before the fall of night, For fear the Moon should shine alone, And stars unrivaled bright; And blessed will the lover be That walks beneath their light, And breathes the love against thy cheek I dare not even write! Would I had been, fair Ines, That gallant cavalier, Who rode so gaily by thy side, And whispered thee so near! Or no true lovers here, That he should cross the seas to win The dearest of the dear? I saw thee, lovely Ines, Descend along the shore, It would have been a beauteous dream, If it had been no more! Alas, alas! fair Ines, She went away with song, And shoutings of the throng; In sounds that sang Farewell, farewell, Farewell, farewell, fair Ines! That vessel never bore So fair a lady on its deck, Nor danced so light before, Alas for pleasure on the sea, And sorrow on the shore! The smile that blessed one lover's heart Has broken many more! Thomas Hood (1799-1845] A VALEDICTION GOD be with thee, my beloved,-God be with thee! Else alone thou goest forth, Thy face unto the north, A Valediction 94I Moor and pleasance all around thee and beneath thee Looking equal in one snow; While I, who try to reach thee, With the farewell and the hollo, Alas, I can but teach thee! God be with thee, my beloved,-God be with thee! Can I teach thee, my beloved,-can I teach thee? The counsel would be light, The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee; My raising would depress thee, My choice of light would blind thee, Alas, I can but bless thee! May God teach thee, my beloved,-may God teach thee! Can I bless thee, my beloved, can I bless thee? What blessing word can I From mine own tears keep dry? What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee? My good reverts to ill; My calmnesses would move thee, My softnesses would prick thee, Alas, I can but love thee! May God bless thee, my beloved,—may God bless thee! Can I love thee, my beloved,-can I love thee? And is this like love, to stand With no help in my hand, When strong as death I fain would watch above thee? My love-kiss can deny No tear that falls beneath it; Mine oath of love can swear thee And thou diest while I breathe it, And I-I can but die! May God love thee, my beloved,-may God love thee! Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806–1861] FAREWELL THOU goest; to what distant place Where'er thou goest, morn will be; The night and gloom I can but take; John Addington Symonds [1840-1893] "I DO NOT LOVE THEE" I Do not love thee!-no! I do not love thee! And yet when thou art absent I am sad; And envy even the bright blue sky above thee, Whose quiet stars may see thee and be glad. I do not love thee!-yet, I know not why, Whate'er thou dost seems still well done, to me: And often in my solitude I sigh That those I do love are not more like thee! I do not love thee!-yet, when thou art gone, I hate the sound (though those who speak be near) Which breaks the lingering echo of the tone Thy voice of music leaves upon my car. "O Swallow, Swallow, Flying South" 943 I do not love thee!-yet thy speaking eyes, With their deep, bright, and most expressive blue, Between me and the mitlnight heaven arise, Oftener than any eyes I ever knew. I know I do not love thee!--yet, alas! Others will scarcely trust my candid heart; And oft I catch them smiling as they pass, Because they see me gazing where thou art. Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton [1808-1870] THE PALM-TREE AND THE PINE BENEATH an Indian palm a girl Of other blood reposes, Her cheek is clear and pale as pearl, Beside a northern pine a boy Is leaning fancy-bound, Cool grows the sick and feverish calm,— The pine-tree dreameth of the palm, The palm-tree of the pine. As soon shall nature interlace Those dimly-visioned boughs, As these young lovers face to face Renew their early vows! Richard Monckton Milnes [1809-1885] "O SWALLOW, SWALLOW, FLYING SOUTH” From "The Princess" O SWALLOW, Swallow, flying, flying South, |