If you had turned his pockets out, You had found some pledge of love." "I met him at this daybreak, Scarce the east was red: Lest the creaking gate should anger you, "Oh patience, sister. Did you see A young man tall and strong, Swift-footed to uphold the right Hard by your chamber door: I said: Her husband loves her much. And yet she loves him more." E "Fie, sister, fie, a wicked lie, A lie, a wicked lie, I have none other love but him, Nor will have till I die. And you have turned him from our door, And stabbed him with a lie: I will go seek him thro' the world In sorrow till I die." "Go seek in sorrow, sister, And find in sorrow too: If thus you shame our father's name My curse go forth with you.” SPRING. FROST-LOCKED all the winter, Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, What shall make their sap ascend That they may put forth shoots ? Tips of tender green, Leaf, or blade, or sheath; Telling of the hidden life That breaks forth underneath, Life nursed in its grave by Death. Blows the thaw-wind pleasantly, Drips the soaking rain, By fits looks down the waking sun : Young grass springs on the plain; Young leaves clothe early hedgerow trees; Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, Swollen with sap put forth their shoots; Birds sing and pair again. There is no time like Spring, When life's alive in everything, Before new nestlings sing, Before cleft swallows speed their journey back Along the trackless track God guides their wing, He spreads their table that they nothing lack, Before the daisy grows a common flower, Before the sun has power To scorch the world up in his noontide hour. There is no time like Spring, Like Spring that passes by; There is no life like Spring-life born to die,— |