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Is she not pure gold； my mistress？
Holds earth aught…speak truth…above her？
Aught like this tress； see； and this tress；
And this last fairest tress of all；
So fair； see； ere I let it fall？
II。
Because； you spend your lives in praising；
To praise； you search the wide world over：
Then why not witness； calmly gazing；
If earth holds aught…speak truth…above her？
Above this tress； and this； I touch
But cannot praise； I love so much！
A WOMAN'S LAST WORD。
I。
Let's contend no more； Love；
Strive nor weep：
All be as before； Love；
…Only sleep！
II。
What so wild as words are？
I and thou
In debate； as birds are；
Hawk on bough！
III。
See the creature stalking
While we speak！
Hush and hide the talking；
Cheek on cheek！
IV。
What so false as truth is；
False to thee？
Where the serpent's tooth is
Shun the tree…
V。
Where the apple reddens
Never pry…
Lest we lose our Edens；
Eve and I。
VI。
Be a god and hold me
With a charm！
Be a man and fold me
With thine arm！
VII。
Teach me； only teach； Love
As I ought
I will speak thy speech； Love；
Think thy thought…
VIII。
Meet； if thou require it；
Both demands；
Laying flesh and spirit
In thy hands。
IX。
That shall be to…morrow
Not to…night：
I must bury sorrow
Out of sight：
X
…Must a little weep； Love；
（Foolish me！）
And so fall asleep； Love；
Loved by thee。
EVELYN HOPE。
I。
Beautiful Evelyn Hope is dead！
Sit and watch by her side an hour。
That is her book…shelf； this her bed；
She plucked that piece of geranium…flower；
Beginning to die too； in the glass；
Little has yet been changed； I think：
The shutters are shut； no light may pass
Save two long rays thro' the hinge's chink。
II。
Sixteen years old； when she died！
Perhaps she had scarcely heard my name；
It was not her time to love； beside；
Her life had many a hope and aim；
Duties enough and little cares；
And now was quiet； now astir；
Till God's hand beckoned unawares；…
And the sweet white brow is all of her。
III。
Is it too late then； Evelyn Hope？
What； your soul was pure and true；
The good stars met in your horoscope；
Made you of spirit； fire and dew…
And； just because I was thrice as old
And our paths in the world diverged so wide；
Each was nought to each； must I be told？
We were fellow mortals； nought beside？
IV。
No； indeed！ for God above
Is great to grant； as mighty to make；
And creates the love to reward the love：
I claim you still； for my own love's sake！
Delayed it may be for more lives yet；
Through worlds I shall traverse； not a few：
Much is to learn； much to forget
Ere the time be come for taking you。
V。
But the time will come；…at last it will；
When； Evelyn Hope； what meant （I shall say）
In the lower earth； in the years long still；
That body and soul so pure and gay？
Why your hair was amber； I shall divine；
And your mouth of your own geranium's red…
And what you would do with me； in fine；
In the new life come in the old one's stead。
VI。
I have lived （I shall say） so much since then；
Given up myself so many times；
Gained me the gains of various men；
Ransacked the ages； spoiled the climes；
Yet one thing； one； in my soul's full scope；
Either I missed or itself missed me：
And I want and find you； Evelyn Hope！
What is the issue？ let us see！
VII。
I loved you； Evelyn； all the while。
My heart seemed full as it could hold？
There was place and to spare for the frank young smile；
And the red young mouth； and the hair's young gold。
So； hush；…I will give you this leaf to keep：
See； I shut it inside the sweet cold hand！
There； that is our secret： go to sleep！
You will wake； and remember； and understand。
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS。
I。
Where the quiet…coloured end of evening smiles；
Miles and miles
On the solitary pastures where our sheep
Half…asleep
Tinkle homeward thro' the twilight； stray or stop
As they crop…
Was the site once of a city great and gay；
（So they say）
Of our country's very capital； its prince
Ages since
Held his court in； gathered councils； wielding far
Peace or war。
II。
Now；…the country does not even boast a tree；
As you see；
To distinguish slopes of verdure； certain rills
From the hills
Intersect and give a name to； （else they run
Into one）
Where the domed and daring palace shot its spires
Up like fires
O'er the hundred…gated circuit of a wall
Bounding all；
Made of marble； men might march on nor be pressed；
Twelve abreast。
III。
And such plenty and perfection； see； of grass
Never was！
Such a carpet as； this summer…time； o'erspreads
And embeds
Every vestige of the city； guessed alone；
Stock or stone…
Where a multitude of men breathed joy and woe
Long ago；
Lust of glory pricked their hearts up； dread of shame
Struck them tame；
And that glory and that shame alike； the gold
Bought and sold。
IV。
Now；…the single little turret that remains
On the plains；
By the caper overrooted； by the gourd
Overscored；
While the patching houseleek's head of blossom winks
Through the chinks…
Marks the basement whence a tower in ancient time
Sprang sublime；
And a burning ring； all round； the chariots traced
As they raced；
And the monarch and his minions and his dames
Viewed the games。
V。
And I know； while thus the quiet…coloured eve
Smiles to leave
To their folding； all our many…tinkling fleece
In such peace；
And the slopes and rills in undistinguished grey
Melt away…
That a girl with eager eyes and yellow hair
Waits