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The very chair I sat on； breaks the rank
That is a portrait of me on the wall…
Three lines； my face comes at so slight a call：
And for all this； one little hour to thank！
IX。
But now； because the hour through years was fixed；
Because our inmost beings met and mixed；
Because thou once hast loved me…wilt thou dare
Say to thy soul and Who may list beside；
‘‘Therefore she is immortally my bride；
‘‘Chance cannot change my love； nor time impair。
X。
‘‘So； what if in the dusk of life that's left；
‘‘I； a tired traveller of my sun bereft；
Look from my path when； mimicking the same；
‘‘The fire…fly glimpses past me； come and gone？
‘‘…Where was it till the sunset？ where anon
‘‘It will be at the sunrise！ What's to blame？''
XI。
Is it so helpful to thee？ Canst thou take
The mimic up； nor； for the true thing's sake；
Put gently by such efforts at a beam？
Is the remainder of the way so long；
Thou need'st the little solace； thou the strong
Watch out thy watch； let weak ones doze and dream！
XII。
…Ah； but the fresher faces！ ‘‘Is it true；''
Thou'lt ask； ‘‘some eyes are beautiful and new？
‘‘Some hair；…how can one choose but grasp such wealth？
‘‘And if a man would press his lips to lips
‘‘Fresh as the wilding hedge…rose…cup there slips
‘‘The dew…drop out of； must it be by stealth？
XIII。
‘‘It cannot change the love still kept for Her；
‘‘More than if such a picture I prefer
‘‘Passing a day with； to a room's bare side：
The painted form takes nothing she possessed；
Yet； while the Titian's Venus lies at rest；
A man looks。 Once more； what is there to chide？''
XIV。
So must I see； from where I sit and watch；
My own self sell myself； my hand attach
Its warrant to the very thefts from me…
Thy singleness of soul that made me proud；
Thy purity of heart I loved aloud；
Thy man's…truth I was bold to bid God see！
XV。
Love so； then； if thou wilt！ Give all thou canst
Away to the new faces…disentranced；
（Say it and think it） obdurate no more：
Re…issue looks and words from the old mint；
Pass them afresh； no matter whose the print
Image and superscription once they bore
XVI。
Re…coin thyself and give it them to spend；…
It all comes to the same thing at the end；
Since mine thou wast； mine art and mine shalt be；
Faithful or faithless； scaling up the sum
Or lavish of my treasure； thou must come
Back to the heart's place here I keep for thee！
XVII。
Only； why should it be with stain at all？
Why must I； 'twixt the leaves of coronal；
Put any kiss of pardon on thy brow？
Why need the other women know so much；
And talk together； ‘‘Such the look and such
‘‘The smile he used to love with； then as now！''
XVIII。
Might I die last and show thee！ Should I find
Such hardship in the few years left behind；
If free to take and light my lamp； and go
Into thy tomb； and shut the door and sit；
Seeing thy face on those four sides of it
The better that they are so blank； I know！
XIX。
Why； time was what I wanted； to turn o'er
Within my mind each look； get more and more
By heart each word； too much to learn at first；
And join thee all the fitter for the pause
'Neath the low doorway's lintel。 That were cause
For lingering； though thou calledst； if I durst！
XX。
And yet thou art the nobler of us two
What dare I dream of； that thou canst not do；
Outstripping my ten small steps with one stride？
I'll say then； here's a trial and a task…
Is it to bear？…if easy； I'll not ask：
Though love fail； I can trust on in thy pride。
XXI。
Pride？…when those eyes forestall the life behind
The death I have to go through！…when I find；
Now that I want thy help most； all of thee！
What did I fear？ Thy love shall hold me fast
Until the little minute's sleep is past
And I wake saved。…And yet it will not be！
TWO IN THE CAMPAGNA。
I。
I wonder do you feel to…day
As I have felt since； hand in hand；
We sat down on the grass； to stray
In spirit better through the land；
This morn of Rome and May？
II。
For me； I touched a thought； I know；
Has tantalized me many times；
（Like turns of thread the spiders throw
Mocking across our path） for rhymes
To catch at and let go。
III。
Help me to hold it！ First it left
The yellowing fennel； run to seed
There； branching from the brickwork's cleft；
Some old tomb's ruin： yonder weed
Took up the floating wet；
IV。
Where one small orange cup amassed
Five beetles；…blind and green they grope
Among the honey…meal： and last；
Everywhere on the grassy slope
I traced it。 Hold it fast！
V。
The champaign with its endless fleece
Of feathery grasses everywhere！
Silence and passion； joy and peace；
An everlasting wash of air…
Rome's ghost since her decease。
VI。
Such life here； through such lengths of hours；
Such miracles performed in play；
Such primal naked forms of flowers；
Such letting nature have her way
While heaven looks from its towers！
VII。
How say you？ Let us； O my dove；
Let us be unashamed of soul；
As earth lies bare to heaven above！
How is it under our control
To love or not to love？
VIII。
I would that you were all to me；
You that are just so much； no more。
Nor yours nor mine； nor slave nor free！
Where does the fault lie？ What the core
O' the wound； since wound must be？
IX。
I would I could adopt your will；
See with your eyes； and set my heart
Beating by yours； and drink my fill
At your soul's springs；…your part my part
In life； for good and ill。
X。
No。 I yearn upward； touch you close；
Then stand away。 I kiss your cheek；
Catch your soul's warmth；…I pluck the rose
And love it more than tongue can speak…
Then the good minute goes。
XI。
Already how am I so far
Out of that minute？ Must I go
Still like the thistle…ball； no bar；
Onward； whenever light winds blow；
Fixed by no friendly star？