It is the counterpoise that minds
To fair and virtuous things inclines:
It is the gust we have and sense
Of every noble excellence;
It is the pulse by which we know
Whether our souls have life or no;
And such a soft and gentle fire
As kindles and inflames desire;
Until it all like incense burns
And unto melting sweetness turns.

The island dreams under the dawn
And great boughs drop tranquillity;
The peahens dance on a smooth lawn,
A parrot sways upon a tree,
Raging at his own image in the enamelled sea.

Here we will moor our lonely ship
And wander with woven hands,
Murmuring softly lip to lip,
Along the grass, along the sands,
Murmuring how far away are the unquiet lands:

How we alone of mortals are
Hid under quiet boughs apart,
While our love grows and Indian star,
A meteor of the burning heart,

Is it too much to ask that I should be
Allowed to prove
God's gift of infinite variety
In human love?

I do not seek that all should understand,
Much less forgive;
But surely heed man's commonsense command
" Live and let love,"

And, if the Greatest Lover's word divine
Further can move, —
(Who had Himself all natures, even mine,)
Love — and let love.

Into my heart's treasury
—I slipped a coin
That time cannot take
—Nor a thief purloin,—

Oh better than the minting
—Of a gold-crowned king
Is the safe-kept memory
—Of a lovely thing.

Into my heart's treasury
I slipped a coin
That time cannot take
Nor a thief purloin,—

Oh better than the minting
Of a gold-crowned king
Is the safe-kept memory
Of a lovely thing.

Inconstancy's the greatest of sins:
It neither ends well, nor begins.
All other faults we simply do;
This, 'tis the same fault, and next too.

Inconstancy no sin will prove
If we consider that we love
But the same beauty in another face,
Like the same body in another place.

In the first ruder age, when Love was wild,
Nor yet by laws reclaim'd, not reconciled
To order, nor by Reason mann'd, but flew
Full-summ'd by Nature, on the instant view
Upon the wings of Appetite, at all
The eye could fair, or sense delightful call;
Election was not yet: but as their cheap
Food from the oak, or the next acorn-heap,
As water from the nearest spring or brook,
So men their undistinguish'd females took
By chance, not choice: but soon the heavenly spark,
That in man's bosom lurk'd, broke through this dark

In the dim light, red and red,
the girl dances all alone.
In the dim light, shedding tears,
the girl fades, too, all alone.
In the dim light, for memory,
the dancing person, the one alone.

In Sherwood livde stout Robin Hood,
An archer great, none greater:
His bow and shafts were sure and good,
Yet Cupids were much beter.
Robin could shoot at many a hart and misse,
Cupid at first could hit a hart of his.
Hey jolly Robin, hoe jolly Robin, hey jolly Robin Hood,
Love finds out me, as well as thee, to follow me, to follow me to the green wood.

A noble thiefe was Robin Hoode,
Wise was he could deceive him;
Yet Marrian, in his bravest mood,
Could of his heart bereave him.
No greater thief lies hidden under skies

In Oxford city there's a wealthy fair maid,
The truth to you, love, I'm going to tell.
She was strongly courting a handsome young man,
Who always told to her he loved her well.

He loved her dearly all at a distance,
While walking down by the shady strand;
And he often told her he'd never leave her,
While walking down by the shady strand.

It's to a dance house they were invited,
And to a dance house they both did go,
Till this other young man came between them
And cruel jealousy, love, run in his mind.

In Mem'ry's fairest court a shrine is set,
Round which the fragrance of a sweet life clings, —
The essence of such rare and holy things
As Love alone can sanctify. The fret
And turmoil of the world avail not yet
To quench the sweetness; for an angel's wings
Are ever hov'ring near, and longing brings
A vision loved that makes the eyelids wet.
Dear sister, in those realms of radiant light
Where thou hast grown to know a richer lore
Than that of earth, sometimes rememb'rest thou
The hours of our companionship so bright