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Farewell

Farewell, farewell! From thee
Today, love, must I sever.
One kiss, one kiss give me,
Ere I quit thee forever!

One blossom from yon tree
O give to me, I pray!
No fruit, no fruit for me!
So long I may not stay.

My Forefathers: Introductory to "Songs of Nature and Love"

INTRODUCTORY TO " SONGS OF NATURE AND LOVE "

On history's page their names do not shine,
For humble and peaceful were they,
And yet I can see their long, long line
Stretching back through the ages gray.
Yes, here in the ancient iron-rich land
They tilled their fields by the river-strand
And smelted the ore in their day.
Neither thralldom nor pomp could they understand,
But, dwelling each like a king in his house,
They quaffed at their festal carouse.
They kissed their sweethearts in springtime's pride,

Love Renewed

Horace . While to thee no other name was nearer,
 Ere a rival youth aspired to fling
Round thy snow-white neck embraces dearer,
 I lived richer than a king.

Lydia . Ere a new flame to thy false heart beckoned,
 When the elder passion seemed divine,
Nor was Lydia yet to Chloë second,
 Roman Ilia's glory paled to mine.

Horace . Now lute-learnèd, skilled in measures tender,
 Thracian Chloë doth my heart enslave,
Life for her I dread not to surrender,
 If the Fates my other soul will save.

Song

He is no lover of the sea
Who loves her never faithlessly,
Who loves her never most and least,
Slavered, fierce, upleaping beast,
Who loves her neither least nor most,
The shrouded girl, the hushing ghost,
Who never loves deceitfully,
He is no lover of the sea.

Love's Farewell

At board and-banquet have I been a jest,
And whoso chose might point a gibe at me;
Full five years didst thou my stanch service test,
Now shalt thou bite thy nails to find me free.

I mind not tears — unmoved by trick so stale;
Cynthia, thy tears from artful motives flow;
I weep to part, but wrongs o'er sobs prevail;
'T is thou hast dealt love's yoke its crushing blow.

Threshold, adieu, that pitied my distress,
And door that took no hurt from angered hand;
But thee, false woman, may the inroads press

Love's Shipwreck

Rightly I 'm served, who had the heart to fly!
To the lone halcyons here I make my moan:
Nor shall my keel its wonted port draw nigh —
Adrift on thankless shore my vows are thrown.

Nay, more! the adverse winds espouse thy side!
Lo! in rude gusts how fiercely chides the gale!
Will no sweet Peace o'er yon wild tempest ride?
Must these few sands to hide my corpse avail?

Nay, change thy harsh complaints for milder tones!
Let night on yonder shoals my pardon buy.
Thou wilt not brook to leave unurned my bones:

Love Accepted

LOVE ACCEPTED .

E'en as from airy heights of mountain springeth a springlet
Limpedest leaping forth from rocking felted with moss,
Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,
Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way,
Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller way-worn,
Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields;
Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-glooming
Gentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze,

His Name Was Bob

A little mongrel dog — he couldn't boast
The smallest trace of blooded pedigree —
All legs and feet, a no'count tail, that thumped
Its joyous greeting at the sight of me —

But loving! There's no dictionary prints
The word which, to my thinking, can express
That look that shone in his brown eyes of trust,
Solicitude and wistful tenderness!

O' nights his tawny head against my knee,
We'd sit together — yesterday he died —
And every one who loves a dog will know
Just why, a lonely-hearted man — I cried!

Folk-Songs in Hokku Form

Things never changed since the Time of the Gods:
The flowing of water, the Way of Love.

Thinking to-morrow remains, thou heart's frail flower-of-cherry,
How knowest whether this night the tempest will not come?

All things change, we are told, in this world of change and sorrow;
But love's way never changes of promising never to change.

If with my sleeve I hide the faint colour of the dawning sun —
Then, perhaps, in the morning my love will remain.