The streams through many a lilied row Down-carolling to the crisped sea, Low-tinkled with a bell-like flow Atween the blossoms, We are free.' LILIAN. I. AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Claps her tiny hands above me, Laughing all she can ; She'll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian. II. When my passion seeks Smiling, never speaks: The baby-roses in her cheeks; III. Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse Wearieth me, May Lilian : Thro' my very heart it thrilleth When from crimson-threaded lips Silver-treble laughter trilleth: Prythee weep, May Lilian. IV. Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian. ISABEL. I EYES not down-dropt nor over bright, but fed With the clear-pointed flame of chas ity, Clear, without heat, undying, tended by Pure vestal thoughts in the trans lucent fane Of her still spirit; locks not widedispread, Madonna-wise on either side her head; Sweet lips whereon perpetually did reign The summer calm of golden charity, Were fixed shadows of thy fixed mood, Revered Isabel, the crown and head, The stately flower of female fortitude, Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead. 11. The intuitive decision of a bright And thorough-edged intellect to part Error from crime; a prudence to withhold; The laws of marriage character'd in gold Upon the blanched tablets of her heart; A love still burning upward, giving light To read those laws; an accent very low In blandishment, but a most silver flow Of subtle-paced counsel in distress, Right to the heart and brain, tho' undescried, Winning its way with extreme gentleness Thro' all the outworks of suspicious pride; A courage to endure and to obey ; A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway, MARIANA. Mariana in the moated grange.' WITH blackest moss the flower-plots That held the pear to the gable-wall. The broken sheds look'd sad and strange : Unlifted was the clinking latch; Weeded and worn the ancient thatch Upon the lonely moated grange. She only said, 'My life is dreary, He cometh not,' she said; She said, 'I am aweary, aweary, About a stone-cast from the wall A sluice with blacken'd waters slept, And o'er it many, round and small, The cluster'd marish-mosses crept. Hard by a poplar shook alway, All silver-green with gnarled bark : For leagues no other tree did mark The level waste, the rounding gray. She only said, 'My life is dreary, He cometh not,' she said; She said, 'I am aweary, aweary, I would that I were dead!' H Thro' light and shadow thou dost range, Sudden glances, sweet and strange, Delicious spites and darling angers, And airy forms of flitting change. Then in madness and in bliss, A sudden-curved frown. II. Smiling, frowning, evermore, Of wealthy smiles: but who may know Frowns perfect-sweet along the brow Thy smile and frown are not aloof From one another, Each to each is dearest brother; III. A subtle, sudden flame, By veering passion fann'd, About thee breaks and dances: When I would kiss thy hand, The flush of anger'd shame O'erflows thy calmer glances, But when I turn away, Wooest not, nor vainly wranglest; SECOND SONG. TO THE SAME. I. THY tuwhits are lull'd, I wot, Thy tuwhoos of yesternight, So took echo with delight, That her voice untuneful grown, II. I would mock thy chaunt anew But I cannot mimick it; |