Sit there for ever, dear, and lean
In marble as in fleeting flesh,
Above the tall gray reeds that screen
The river when the breeze is fresh;
For ever let the morning light
Stream down that forehead broad and white,
And round that cheek for my delight.

Already that flushed moment grows
So dark, so distant; through the ranks
Of scented reed the river flows
Still murmuring to its willowy banks
But we can never hope to share
Again that rapture fond and rare,
Unless you turn immortal there.

There is no other way to hold

Speak, gentle heart, where is thy dwelling-place? HEART .
With her whose birth the heav'ns themselves have blest. LOVER .
What dost thou there? — HEART . Sometimes behold her face,
And lodge sometimes within her crystal breast. LOVER .
She cold, thou hot, how can you then agree? HEART .
Not Nature now, but Love doth govern me. LOVER .
With her wilt thou remain, and let me die? HEART .

If I return, we both shall die for grief. LOVER .
If still thou stay, what shall I get thereby? HEART .
I'll move her heart to purchase thy relief. LOVER .

The world, the world, God's lovely world
Is fading out of sight!
The great cloud-ships with sails unfurled,
Great sails of snowiest white

The skies of blue, the forests green,
That I have loved, God knows:
The crimson deep triumphant sheen
Of summer's stateliest rose.

The purple violet's modest hue;
The lily's silver crown:
My sea's wild waves of magic blue;
The light on field and down.

To see these things no more, no more,—
O agony supreme!
To feel that life is o'er, is o'er;
To pass into a dream

The rose no garland needs, nor you, my queen,
Proud silken robes and veils of jewelled sheen;
Pearls cannot match your bosom lying bare,
Nor gold the glory of your tangled hair.
The burning sapphires of the Indian mine
Before you pale; your eyes more brilliant shine.
Your close-joined breasts Love's magic girdle make
And bees their honey from your wet lips take.
Nay, I would never dare before your throne to come,
Save that in those bright eyes soft Hope still makes his home.

Yesterday I sat between
Kate and Flo;
Flo loves me and I love Kate,
I was in a pretty state:
What was I to do?

Florence quick to me did lean,
Kissed me so:
Jealous of my other dear,
She will tell on us, I fear.
What then could I do?

I was feeling rather mean,
Longed to go;
Turned to Kitty like a thief,
Snatched one kiss—'twas all too brief—
That I had to do.

But I'm sure there'll be a scene
'Twixt the two;
Kisses into trouble lead,
Whether given or received.
What am I to do?

How can my love in equity be blamed,
Still to importune, though it ne'er obtain,
Since though her face and voice will me refrain,
Yet by her voice and face I am inflamed?
For when, alas! her face with frowns is framed,
To kill my love, but to revive my pain;
And when her voice commands, but all in vain,
That love both leave to be, and to be named:
Her siren voice doth such enchantment move,
And though she frown, ev'n frowns so lovely make her,
That I of force am forced still to love.
Since then I must, and yet cannot forsake her,

RAPTURE.

Laura, above the world I seem to soar,
And bask in light on some celestial shore
Whene'er our glances meet.
Methinks I revel in ethereal balm
When in thine eye caerulean and calm
My pictured self I greet.

The lyre's acclaim from Paradise afar,
The harp's accord from some benignant star,
Fill me with frenzied glow.
My muse is conscious of th' idyllic hour
When from thy burning lips too grudging pour
The tones in silvery flow.

I see young Loves with fluttering wings outspread,

SONNET

PHoeBUS

What voice is this that wails above the deep?
ALCYONE

A wife's, that mourns her fate and loveless days.

PHoeBUS

What love lies buried in these waterways?

ALCYONE

A husband's, hurried to eternal sleep.

PHoeBUS

Cease, O beloved, cease to wail and weep.

When the strings thy fingers sweep,
Laura, all my spirits fail,
Marble-cold my forces sleep,
Life and Death before thee quail.
For thy sovereign powers impress
Hearts — a very sorceress.

Gentle zephyrs rustle by,
Hanging on thy melody,
And, enraptured by the strain,
Dancing round and round remain.
Nature's self is calm and still,
Drinking in thy every thrill:
Victim to thy music she ,
'Tis thy glance that conquers me .

Heaven-born harmonies arise
In voluptuous accord,
Sweet, as though from azure skies

Fair as an angel, gayest of the gay,
Fairer than any other youth was he,
His glance celestial, like the sun in May
Reflected in an azure crystal sea.

His kisses — sentiments from Paradise!
As though two flames were locked in one embrace,
Like tones which from the harp alternate rise,
And blend in heaven-born, harmonious grace.

They rush, they fly, uniting soul to soul,
Lips quiver, cheeks assume a tone of fire,
Hearts meet, and heaven and earth commingled roll,
Dissolving in the warmth of love's desire.