There is no vacant chair. The loving meet,
— A group unbroken — smitten, who knows how?
One sitteth silent only, in his usual seat;
— We gave him once that freedom. Why not now?

Perhaps he is too weary, and needs rest;
— He needed it so often, nor could we
Bestow. God gave it, knowing how to do so best.
— Which of us would disturb him? Let him be.

There is no vacant chair. If he will take
— The mood to listen mutely, be it done.
By his least mood we crossed, for which the heart must ache,

There is many a love in the land, my love,
—But never a love like this is;
Then kill me dead with your love, my love,
—And cover me up with kisses.

So kill me dead and cover me deep
—Where never a soul discovers;
Deep in your heart to sleep, to sleep,
—In the darlingest tomb of lovers.

'Tis wind that do weäft on the clouds
In their way over hillheads;
An' waight that do roll on the water
A-winden round meäds;
An' drith that do draw on the cattle
To drink at the brook:
An' by love that the lad is a-twold
Where do live the feäir maid;
An' wi' guidance to good, oh! 'tis better
To goo than to rest.

There are that love the shades of life,
And shun the splendid walks of fame;
There are that hold it rueful strife
To risk Ambition's losing game;

That far from Envy's lurid eye
The fairest fruits of Genius rear,
Content to see them bloom and die
In Friendship's small but kindly sphere.

Than vainer flowers though sweeter far,
The Evening Primrose shuns the day;
Blooms only to the western star,
And loves its solitary ray.

In Eden's vale an aged hind,
At the dim twilight's closing hour,

My Father's house, I find no entrance there;
But those who buy and sell block up the way,
And that which should be called " the house of prayer, "
Is filled with those whose spirits never pray;
Father! accept my prayer that they may see,
Nor in thy presence dwell by Thee unknown;
Open their eyes that they may look on Thee,
And all thy love for disobedience own;
Be this the heaviest scourge to drive them hence,
And may thy word with gentle force persuade;
I need no sword but this for my defence,
It speaks; and by the dead shall be obeyed;

That none beguiled be by times quick flowing,
Lovers have in their hearts a clock still going;
For though time be nimble, his motions
Are quicker
And thicker
Where love hath his notions:

Hope is the main-spring on which moves desire,
And these do the less wheels, Fear, Joy, inspire;
The ballance is thought, evermore
Clicking
And striking,
And ne're giving o're.

Occasion's the hand which still's moving round,
Till by it the critical hour may be found,
And when that falls out, it will strike
Kisses,
Strange blisses,

That learned Graecian (who did so excell)
In Knowledge passing Sense, that hee is nam'd
Of all the after-Worlds Divine ) doth tell,
That at the Time when first our Soules are fram'd,
Ere in these Mansions blinde they come to dwell,
They live bright Rayes of that Eternall Light ,
And others see, know, love, in Heavens great Hight,
Not toylde with ought to Reason doth rebell;
Most true it is, for straight at the first Sight
My Minde mee told, that in some other Place
It elsewhere saw the Idea of that Face,

That gusty spring, each afternoon
—By the ivied cot I passed,
And noted at that lattice soon
—Her fair face downward cast;
Still in the same place seated there,
So diligent, so very fair.

Oft-times I said I knew her not,
—Yet that way round would go,
Until, when evenings lengthened out,
—And bloomed the may-hedge row,
I met her by the wayside well,
Whose waters, maybe, broke the spell.

For, leaning on her pail, she prayed,
—I'd lift it to her head.
So did I; but I'm much afraid
—Some wasteful drops were shed,

Tell me, lovely, loving pair!
Why so kind, and so severe?
Why so careless of our care,
Only to yourselves so dear?

By this cunning change of hearts,
You the power of love control;
While the boy's deluded darts
Can arrive at neither soul.

For in vain to either breast
Still beguiled love does come,
Where he finds a foreign guest,
Neither of your hearts at home.

Debtors thus with like design,
When they never mean to pay,
That they may the law decline,
To some friend make all away.

Teach me to love? Go, teach thyself more wit:
I chief professor am of it.
Teach craft to Scots and thrift to Jews;
Teach boldness to the stews;
In tyrants' courts teach supple flattery;
Teach Jesuits, that have travelled far, to lie;
Teach fire to burn and winds to blow;
Teach restless fountains how to flow;
Teach the dull earth, fixed, to abide;
Teach womankind inconstancy and pride;
See if your diligence here will useful prove:
But, prithee, teach not me to love.

The god of love, if such a thing there be,