Volume Ii Part 52 (1/2)

PHILLIS AND CORYDON

Phillis took a red rose from the tangles of her hair,-- Time, the Golden Age; the place, Arcadia, anywhere,--

Phillis laughed, the saucy jade: ”Sir Shepherd, wilt have this, Or”--Bashful G.o.d of skipping lambs and oaten reeds!--”a kiss?”

Bethink thee, gentle Corydon! A rose lasts all night long, A kiss but slips from off your lips like a thrush's evening song.

A kiss that goes, where no one knows! A rose, a crimson rose!

Corydon made his choice and took--Well, which do you suppose?

Arthur Colton [1868-

AT HER WINDOW

”HARK, HARK, THE LARK”

From ”Cymbeline”

Hark, hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings, And Phoebus 'gins arise, His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes: With everything that pretty bin, My lady sweet, arise: Arise, arise.

William Shakespeare [1564-1616]

”SLEEP, ANGRY BEAUTY”

Sleep, angry beauty, sleep and fear not me!

For who a sleeping lion dares provoke?

It shall suffice me here to sit and see Those lips shut up, that never kindly spoke: What sight can more content a lover's mind Than beauty seeming harmless, if not kind?

My words have charmed her, for secure she sleeps, Though guilty much of wrong done to my love; And in her slumber, see! she close-eyed weeps: Dreams often more than waking pa.s.sions move.

Plead, Sleep, my cause, and make her soft like thee: That she is peace may wake and pity me.

Thomas Campion [?--1619]

MATIN SONG