66

'Why then should a lark be reckoned

One alone, without a second

Near his throne?

He in skyward flight unslackened,
In his music, not alone."

Maiden May sat in her bower;
Her own face was like a flower
Of the prime,

Half in sunshine, half in shower,

In the year's most tender time.

Her own thoughts in silent song
Musically flowed along,
Wise, unwise,

Wistful, wondering, weak or strong:

As brook shallows sink or rise.

Other thoughts another day,

Maiden May, will surge and sway

Round your heart ;

Wake, and plead, and turn at bay,

Wisdom part, and folly part.

Time not far remote will borrow

Other joys, another sorrow,

All for you;

Not to-day, and yet to-morrow

Reasoning false and reasoning true.

Wherefore greatest? Wherefore least?

Hearts that starve and hearts that feast?

You and I?

Stammering Oracles have ceased,

And the whole earth stands at "

why?"

Underneath all things that be
Lies an unsolved mystery;

Over all

Spreads a veil impenetrably,

Spreads a dense unlifted pall.

Mystery of mysteries:

This creation hears and sees

High and low

Vanity of vanities :

This we test and this we know.

Maiden May, the days of flowering

Nurse you now in sweet embowering, Sunny days;

Bright with rainbows all the showering, Bright with blossoms all the ways.

Close the inlet of your bower,

Close it close with thorn and flower,
Maiden May;

Lengthen out the shortening hour, -
Morrows are not as to-day.

Stay to-day which wanes too soon,
Stay the sun and stay the moon,
Stay your youth;

Bask you in the actual noon,

Rest you in the present truth.

Let to-day suffice to-day :

For itself to-morrow may

Fetch its loss;

Aim and stumble, say its say,

Watch and pray and bear its cross.

TILL TO-MORROW.

LONG have I longed, till I am tired

Of longing and desire;

Farewell my points in vain desired,

My dying fire;

Farewell all things that die and fail and tire.

Springtide and youth and useless pleasure
And all my useless scheming,

My hopes of unattainable treasure,

Dreams not worth dreaming,

Glow-worms that gleam but yield no warmth in gleaming,

Farewell all shows that fade in showing:

My wish and joy stand over Until to-morrow; Heaven is glowing

Through cloudy cover,

Beyond all clouds loves me my Heavenly Lover.

TH

DEATH-WATCHES.

HE Spring spreads one green lap of flowers
Which Autumn buries at the fall,

No chilling showers of Autumn hours

Can stay them or recall;

Winds sing a dirge, while earth lays out of sight

Her garment of delight.

The cloven East brings forth the sun,

The cloven West doth bury him

What time his gorgeous race is run
And all the world grows dim;

A funeral moon is lit in heaven's hollow,
And pale the star-lights follow.