How I wad mourn when it was torn By autumn wild and winter rude! But I wad sing on wanton wing When youthfu' May its bloom renewed. O gin my Love were yon red rose Into her bonnie breast to fa'; Robert Burns [1759-1796] "BONNIE WEE THING" BONNIE wee thing! cannie wee thing! I wad wear thee in my bosom, In that bonnie face o' thine; Wit and grace, and love and beauty, Goddess o' this soul o' mine! Lovely wee thing, wert thou mine, I wad wear thee in my bosom, Lest my jewel I should tine. Robert Burns [1759-1796] ROSE AYLMER Ан, what avails the sceptered race! Ah, what the form divine! What every virtue, every grace! Rose Aylmer, all were thine. 66 "Take Back the Virgin Page" 601 Rose Aylmer, whom these wakeful eyes May weep, but never see, A night of memories and sighs I consecrate to thee. Walter Savage Landor [1775-1864] "TAKE BACK THE VIRGIN PAGE" WRITTEN ON RETURNING A BLANK BOOK TAKE back the Virgin Page White and unwritten still; Some hand more calm and sage Thoughts came as pure as light— Pure as even you require: But oh! each word I write Yet let me keep the book: Oft shall my heart renew, When on its leaves I look, Like you, 'tis fair and bright; To let wild passion write Haply, when from those eyes Fancy may trace some line Worthy those eyes to meet, Pure, calm, and sweet. And as o'er ocean far Seamen their records keep, Led by some hidden star Through the cold deep; Tell through what storms I stray, Guiding my way. Thomas Moore [1779-1852] "BELIEVE ME, IF ALL THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS " BELIEVE me, if all those endearing young charms, Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms, Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art, Let thy loveliness fade as it will, And around the dear ruin each wish of Would entwine itself verdantly still. my heart It is not while beauty and youth are thine own, That the fervor and faith of a soul may be known, As the sunflower turns to her god when he sets THE NUN If you become a nun, dear, A friar I will be; In any cell you run, dear, Pray look behind for me. The roses all turn pale, too; The blind will see the show; Το If you become a nun, dear, Will chant, "We trust in thee!" The water turn to wine: What! you go take the vows, my dear? You may-but they'll be mine. 603 Leigh Hunt [1784-1859] SONG LOVE me if I live! Love me if I die! What to me is life or death, Once I loved thee rich, Now I love thee poor; Ah! what is there I could not Kiss me for my love! Pay me for my pain! Come! and murmur in my ear How thou lov'st again! Bryan Waller Procter [1787-1874] ΤΟ ONE word is too often profaned One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it. One hope is too like despair For prudence to smother, I can give not what men call love; The worship the heart lifts above From the sphere of our sorrow? Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822] FROM THE ARABIC My faint spirit was sitting in the light It panted for thee like the hind at noon Thy barb, whose hoofs outspeed the tempest's flight, My heart, for my weak feet were weary soon, Did companion thee. Ah! fleeter far than fleetest storm or steed, Or the death they bear, The heart which tender thought clothes like a dove With the wings of care; In the battle, in the darkness, in the need, Shall mine cling to thee, Nor claim one smile for all the comfort, love, It may bring to thee. Percy Bysshe Shelley [1792-1822] THE WANDERING KNIGHT'S SONG My ornaments are arms, My pastime is in war, My bed is cold upon the wold, My lamp yon star. My journeyings are long, My slumbers short and broken; Kissing thy token. |