CLXXI. LOVE'S SILVER ITERANCE. SAY over again, and yet once over again, That thou dost love me-though the word repeated Should seem a cuckoo-song, as thou dost treat it. Remember, never to the hill or plain, Valley, or wood, without her cuckoo-strain Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed. By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt's pain Cry, "Speak once more-thou lovest!" Who can fear Too many stars, though each in heaven shall roll, Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year? Say thou dost love me, love me, love me-toll The silver iterance !-Only minding, Dear, To love me also in silence in thy soul. Elizabeth Barrett Browning. CLXXII. LOVE'S STAR. STAR that bringest home the bee, Come to the luxuriant skies, Whilst the landscape's odours rise, From cottages whose smoke unstirred Star of love's soft interviews, By absence from the heart. CLXXIII. Thomas Campbell. LOVE IN ABSENCE. SUMMER MADE WINTER. How like a winter hath my absence been Like widowed wombs after their lord's decease Yet this abundant issue seemed to me But hope of orphans and unfathered fruit ; For summer and his pleasures wait on thee, And thou away, the very birds are mute; Or if they sing, 'tis with so dull a cheer, That leaves look pale, dreàding the winter's near. William Shakespeare. CLXXIV. LOVE IN ABSENCE. SPRING MADE WINTER. FROM you have I been absent in the Spring, That heavy Saturn laughed and leaped with him. Yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew; Nor did I wonder at the lily's white, Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose; They were but sweet, but figures of delight, Drawn after you, you pattern of all those. Yet seemed it winter still, and, you away, As with your shadow, I with these did play. William Shakespeare. CLXXV. LOVE IN ABSENCE. PRESENCE IN ABSENCE. ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation Distance, and length; Do what thou canst for alteration: For hearts of truest mettle Absence doth join, and Time doth settle. Who loves a mistress of such quality, Affection's ground Beyond time, place, and all mortality. Absence is Presence, Time doth tarry. Where none can watch her, In some close corner of my brain: Anonymous. CLXXVI. LOVE IN ABSENCE. TO LUCASTA. IF to be absent were to be Away from thee; Or that when I am gone You or I were alone; Then, my Lucasta, might I crave Pity from blustering wind, or swallowing wave. Though seas and land betwixt us both, Like separated souls, All time and space controls: So then we do anticipate And are alive i' the skies, If thus our lips and eyes Can speak like spirits unconfined Richard Lovelace. CLXXVII. LOVE IN ABSENCE. THE LONGING HEART. My heart is sick with longing, though I feed As if he slept-forgetting his old speed: The march of minutes on the dial's face, But when, dear lady, I am near thy heart, Thy smile is Time, and then so swift it flies, Alas, alas! that we must learn hours' flight Thomas Hood. CLXXVIII. LOVE IN ABSENCE. PAIN WITHOUT PEACE. 'T IS not the loss of love's assurance, The fondest thoughts two hearts can cherish, What though, untouched by jealous madness, Absence is not the soul torn by it From more than light or life or breath? "T is Lethe's gloom, but not its quiet, The pain without the peace of death! Thomas Campbell. CLXXIX. LOVE IN ABSENCE. ABSENT AND SILENT. WHY art thou silent? Is thy love a plant |