Part 3 (1/2)

Once did I breathe another's breath, And in my mistress move, Once was I not mine own at all,-- And then I was in love.

Once wore I bracelets made of hair, And collars did approve, Once wore my clothes made out of wax,-- And then I was in love.

Once did I sonnet to my saint, My soul in numbers move, Once did I tell a thousand lies,-- And then I was in love.

Once in my ear did dangling hang A little turtle-dove, Once, in a word, I was a fool,-- And then I was in love.

--_Robert Jones_

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying: And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time.

And while ye may go marry: For having lost but once your prime You may forever tarry.

--_Robert Herrick_

My Kate

She was not as pretty as women I know, And yet all your best made of suns.h.i.+ne and snow Drop to shade, melt to naught in the long-trodden ways, While she's still remember'd on warm and cold days-- My Kate.

Her air had a meaning, her movements a grace; You turn'd from the fairest to gaze on her face: And when you had once seen her forehead and mouth, You saw as distinctly her soul and her truth-- My Kate.

Such a blue inner light from her eyelids outbroke, You look'd at her silence and fancied she spoke: When she did, so peculiar yet soft was the tone, Tho' the loudest spoke also, you heard her alone-- My Kate.

I doubt if she said to you much that could act As a thought or suggestion: she did not attract In the sense of the brilliant or wise: I infer Twas her thinking of others, made you think of her-- My Kate.

She never found fault with you, never implied Your wrong by her right; and yet men at her side Grew n.o.bler, girls purer, as thro' the whole town The children were gladder that pull'd at her gown-- My Kate.

None knelt at her feet confess'd lovers in thrall; They knelt more to G.o.d than they used,--that was all: If you praised her as charming, some ask'd what you meant.

But the charm of her presence was felt when she went-- My Kate.

The weak and the gentle, the ribald and rude, She took as she found them, and did them all good; It always was so with her--see what you have!

She has made the gra.s.s greener even here with her grave-- My Kate.

My dear one!--When thou wast alive with the rest, I held thee the sweetest and loved thee the best: And now thou art dead, shall I not take thy part As thy smiles used to do for thyself, my sweet Heart-- My Kate?

--_Elizabeth Barrett Browning_

There is no friend like an old friend Who has shared our morning days, No greeting like his welcome, No homage like his praise.