Oh! breaking heart that will not break, Oriana; Oh! pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Oriana. Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak, And then the tears run down my cheek, I feel the tears of blood arise Up from my heart unto my eyes, Oriana. Within thy heart my arrow lies, VOL. I. Oriana. F Oh cursed hand! oh cursed blow! Oriana ! Oh happy thou that liest low, Oriana! All night the silence seems to flow Beside me in my utter woe, Oriana. A weary, weary way I go, Oriana. When Norland winds pipe down the sea, Oriana, I walk, I dare not think of thee, Oriana. Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree, I dare not die and come to thee, Oriana. I hear the roaring of the sea, Oriana. CIRCUMSTANCE. Two children in two neighbour villages Playing mad pranks along the heathy leas; Two lovers whispering by an orchard wall; Two lives bound fast in one with golden ease; Two graves grass-green beside a gray church-tower, Wash'd with still rains and daisy-blossomed ; Two children in one hamlet born and bred; So runs the round of life from hour to hour. THE MERMAN. WHO would be A merman bold Sitting alone, Singing alone Under the sea, With a crown of gold, On a throne ? I would be a merman bold; I would sit and sing the whole of the day; I would fill the sea-halls with a voice of power; But at night I would roam abroad and play With the mermaids in and out of the rocks, I would kiss them often under the sea, And kiss them again till they kiss'd me And then we would wander away, away To the pale-green sea-groves straight and high, Chasing each other merrily. There would be neither moon nor star; But the wave would make music above us afar Low thunder and light in the magic night Neither moon nor star. We would call aloud in the dreamy dells, Call to each other and whoop and cry All night, merrily, merrily; They would pelt me with starry spangles and shells, Laughing and clapping their hands between, All night, merrily, merrily: But I would throw to them back in mine Turkis and agate and almondine: |