Part 16 (1/2)

I never thought at all of Rose, As Rose and I went through the dell, We fell a talking I suppose, But yet of what I cannot tell.

Pebbles below and mosses over, Rippled a cool and limpid rill; Nature lay sleeping like a lover In the embrace of the woods so still.

Shoes and stockings off she slipped, And with her sweetly innocent air Into the stream her feet she dipped, Yet I never saw her feet were bare.

I only talked, the time beguiling As we wandered, she and I; And sometimes I saw her smiling, But now and then I heard her sigh.

Only her beauty dawned on me When silent woods were left behind, ”Never mind that now!” said she And now I shall always mind.

REGRETS.

(AFTER CHARLES ROUSSEAU.)

Let me cherish in my sadness Those fair days of youth and gladness!

Moments of delightful madness Gone, alas, for evermore!

Vain regrets for misspent powers, Wasted chances, faded flowers, Vex my lonely spirit sore.

Had I only known before!

Let me cherish in my sadness Those fair days of youth and gladness!

Moments of delightful madness Gone, alas, for evermore!

TOO LATE.

(PEINE D'AMOUR.)

(AFTER ARMAND SILVESTRE.)

When your hand was laid upon mine 'Twas in painful dread that I grasped it, For some hesitation malign, Made tremble the fingers that clasped it.

When you turned your forehead so near, 'Twas in painful dread that I kissed it, For some cruel prompting of fear Made me timidly seek to resist it.

Ah!--and my life thenceforward approved Sorrow's bitterness had o'ercome me, I only knew how I loved The day that had taken you from me.

IF THERE BE A GARDEN GAY.

(S'IL EST UN CHARMANT GAZON.)

(AFTER VICTOR HUGO.)

If there be a garden gay Man has not molested, Where blaze through the summer day Flowers golden crested, Where tallest lilies grow, And honeysuckles blow There, oh there I fain would go Where thy foot, thy foot has rested!

If there be a rosy dream By true love invested, Where all things delightful seem Close together nested Where soul to soul may tell The joy they know so well 'Tis there, oh there I fain would dwell Where thy heart, thy heart has rested.

THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSES.

(ENVOI DE ROSES.)