IX

STAR Sirius and the Pole Star dwell afar Beyond the drawings each of other's strength:

One blazes through the brief bright summer's length

Lavishing life-heat from a flaming car; While one unchangeable upon a throne Broods o'er the frozen heart of earth alone,

Content to reign the bright particular star Of some who wander or of some who groan.

They own no drawings each of other's strength,

Nor vibrate in a visible sympathy,

Nor veer along their courses each toward each :

Yet are their orbits pitch'd in harmony Of one dear heaven, across whose depth and length

Mayhap they talk together without speech.

AN ECHO FROM WILLOWWOOD "OH YE, ALL YE THAT WALK IN WILLOW

WOOD"

Two gaz'd into a pool, he gaz'd and she, Not hand in hand, yet heart in heart, I

think,

Pale and reluctant on the water's brink,
As on the brink of parting which must be.
Each eyed the other's aspect, she and he,
Each felt one hungering heart leap up and
sink,

Each tasted bitterness which both must drink,

There on the brink of life's dividing sea.
Lilies upon the surface, deep below
Two wistful faces craving each for each,
Resolute and reluctant without speech :-
A sudden ripple made the faces flow
One moment join'd, to vanish out of reach :
So these hearts join'd, and ah! were parted

80.

TWIST ME A CROWN

TWIST me a crown of wind-flowers;
That I may fly away

To hear the singers at their song,
And players at their play.

That voice rang out from the donjon tower,

Non ti scordar di me,

Non ti scordar di me!

THE CHESS-BOARD

My little love, do you remember,
Ere we were grown so sadly wise,
Those evenings in the bleak December,
Curtain'd warm from the snowy weather,
When you and I play'd chess together,

Checkmated by each other's eyes?
Ah, still I see your soft white hand
Hovering warm o'er Queen and Knight!

Brave Pawns in valiant battle stand; The double Castles guard the wings; The Bishop, bent on distant things, Moves, sidling through the fight.

Our fingers touch; our glances meet, And falter; falls your golden hair Against my cheek; your bosom sweet Is heaving. Down the field, your Queen Rides slow her soldiery all between,

And checks me unaware.

Ah me! the little battle's done,
Dispers'd is all its chivalry;
Full many a move, since then, have we
'Mid Life's perplexing checkers made,
And many a game with Fortune play'd, -
What is it we have won?

This, this at least - if this alone;
That never, never, never more,
As in those old still nights of yore

(Ere we were grown so sadly wise),
Can you and I shut out the skies,
Shut out the world, and wintry weather,
And, eyes exchanging warmth with eyes,
Play chess, as then we play'd, together!

The taste of stronger food than such light

fare.

To feed on human flesh he did not dare, Till many a meaner meal had slowly given The young destroyer strength to vanquish

even

His restless rival in destruction, Man.
Meanwhile, on lesser victims he began
To test his power; and in a cold spring
night

Two weanling lambs first perish'd from his bite.

The bleatings of their dam at break of day Drew to the spot where her dead lambkins lay

The other beasts. They, understanding not, In wistful silence round that fatal spot Stood eyeing the dead lambs with looks forlorn.

Adam, who was upon the march that morn, Missing his bodyguard, turn'd back to see What they were doing; and there also he Saw the two frozen lambkins lying dead, But understood not. At the last he said, "Since the lambs cannot move, methinks 't were best

That I should carry them.”

So on his breast He laid their little bodies, and again Set forward, follow'd o'er the frosty plain By his bewilder'd flocks. And in dismay They held their peace. That was a silent day.

At night he laid the dead lambs on the grass.

That night still colder than the other was, And when the morning broke there were