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Onward； whenever light winds blow；
Fixed by no friendly star？
XII。
Just when I seemed about to learn！
Where is the thread now？ Off again！
The old trick！ Only I discern…
Infinite passion； and the pain
Of finite hearts that yearn。
* 1 Herb with yellow flowers and seeds supposed
* to be medicinal。
MISCONCEPTIONS。
I。
This is a spray the Bird clung to；
Making it blossom with pleasure；
Ere the high tree…top she sprang to；
Fit for her nest and her treasure。
Oh； what a hope beyond measure
Was the poor spray's； which the flying feet hung to；…
So to be singled out； built in； and sung to！
II。
This is a heart the Queen leant on；
Thrilled in a minute erratic；
Ere the true bosom she bent on；
Meet for love's regal dalmatic。
Oh； what a fancy ecstatic
Was the poor heart's； ere the wanderer went on…
Love to be saved for it； proffered to； spent on！
* 1 A vestment used by ecclesiastics； and formerly
* by senators and persons of high rank。
A SERENADE AT THE VILLA。
I。
That was I； you heard last night；
When there rose no moon at all；
Nor； to pierce the strained and tight
Tent of heaven； a planet small：
Life was dead and so was light。
II。
Not a twinkle from the fly；
Not a glimmer from the worm；
When the crickets stopped their cry；
When the owls forbore a term；
You heard music； that was I。
III。
Earth turned in her sleep with pain；
Sultrily suspired for proof：
In at heaven and out again；
Lightning！…where it broke the roof；
Bloodlike； some few drops of rain。
IV。
What they could my words expressed；
O my love； my all； my one！
Singing helped the verses best；
And when singing's best was done；
To my lute I left the rest。
V。
So wore night； the East was gray；
White the broad…faced hemlock…flowers：
There would be another day；
Ere its first of heavy hours
Found me； I had passed away。
VI。
What became of all the hopes；
Words and song and lute as well？
Say； this struck you…‘‘When life gropes
‘‘Feebly for the path where fell
‘‘Light last on the evening slopes；
VII。
‘‘One friend in that path shall be；
‘‘To secure my step from wrong；
‘‘One to count night day for me；
‘‘Patient through the watches long；
‘‘Serving most with none to see。''
VIII。
Never say…as something bodes…
‘‘So； the worst has yet a worse！
‘‘When life halts 'neath double loads；
‘‘Better the taskmaster's curse
‘‘Than such music on the roads！
IX。
‘‘When no moon succeeds the sun；
‘‘Nor can pierce the midnight's tent
‘‘Any star； the smallest one；
‘‘While some drops； where lightning rent；
‘‘Show the final storm begun…
X。
‘‘When the fire…fly hides its spot；
‘‘When the garden…voices fail
‘‘In the darkness thick and hot；…
‘‘Shall another voice avail；
‘‘That shape be where these are not？
XI。
‘‘Has some plague a longer lease；
‘‘Proffering its help uncouth？
‘‘Can't one even die in peace？
‘‘As one shuts one's eyes on youth；
‘‘Is that face the last one sees？''
XII。
Oh how dark your villa was；
Windows fast and obdurate！
How the garden grudged me grass
Where I stood…the iron gate
Ground its teeth to let me pass！
ONE WAY OF LOVE。
I。
All June I bound the rose in sheaves。
Now； rose by rose； I strip the leaves
And strew them where Pauline may pass。
She will not turn aside？ Alas！
Let them lie。 Suppose they die？
The chance was they might take her eye。
II。
How many a month I strove to suit
These stubborn fingers to the lute！
To…day I venture all I know。
She will not hear my music？ So！
Break the string； fold music's wing：
Suppose Pauline had bade me sing！
III。
My whole life long I learned to love。
This hour my utmost art I prove
And speak my passion…heaven or hell？
She will not give me heaven？ 'Tis well！
Lose who may…I still can say；
Those who win heaven； blest are they！
ANOTHER WAY OF LOVE。
I。
June was not over
Though past the fall；
And the best of her roses
Had yet to blow；
When a man I know
（But shall not discover；
Since ears are dull；
And time discloses）
Turned him and said with a man's true air；
Half sighing a smile in a yawn； as 'twere；…
‘‘If I tire of your June； will she greatly care？''
II。
Well； dear； in…doors with you！
True！ serene deadness
Tries a man's temper。
What's in the blossom
June wears on her bosom？
Can it clear scores with you？
Sweetness and redness。
_Eadem semper！_
Go； let me care for it greatly or slightly！
If June mend her bower now； your hand left unsightly
By plucking the roses；…my June will do rightly。
III。
And after； for pastime；
If June be refulgent
With flowers in completeness；
All petals； no prickles；
Delicious as trickles
Of wine poured at mass…time；…
And choose One indulgent
To redness and sweetness：
Or if； with experience of man and of spider；
June use my June…lightning； the strong insect…ridder；
And stop the fresh film…work；…why； June will consider。
A PRETTY WOMAN。
I。
That fawn…skin…dappled hair of hers；
And the blue eye
Dear and dewy；
And that infantine fresh air of hers！
II。
To think men cannot take you； Sweet；
And enfold you；
Ay； and hold you；
And so keep you what they make you； Sweet！
III
You like us for a glance； you know…
For a word's sake
Or a sword's sake；
All's the same； whate'er the chance； you know。
IV。
And in turn we make you ours； we say…
You and youth too；
Eyes and mouth too；
All the fac