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smiles； but never sings； Long since he lost his shining wings。
With thankful； true content； I know This is the better way； Is not a
faithful spirit mine … Mine stillat close of day？ 。 。 。 Yet will my foolish
heart repine For that bright morning dream of mine。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： OUR DEAD
Nothing is our own： we hold our pleasures Just a little while； ere
they are fled： One by one life robs us of our treasures； Nothing is our own
except our Dead。
They are ours； and hold in faithful keeping Safe for ever； all they took
away。 Cruel life can never stir that sleeping； Cruel time can never seize
that prey。
Justice pales； truth fades； stars fall from Heaven； Human are the great
whom we revere： No true crown of honour can be given； Till we place it
on a funeral bier。
How the Children leave us： and no traces Linger of that smiling
angel band； Gone； for ever gone； and in their places； Weary men and
anxious women stand。
Yet we have some little ones； still ours； They have kept the baby smile
we know； Which we kissed one day and hid with flowers； On their dead
white faces； long ago。
When our Joy is lostand life will take it … Then no memory of the
past remains； Save with some strange； cruel sting； to make it Bitterness
beyond all present pains。
Death； more tender…hearted； leaves to sorrow Still the radiant shadow；
fond regret： We shall find； in some far； bright to…morrow； Joy that he has
taken； living yet。
Is Love ours； and do we dream we know it； Bound with all our heart…
strings； all our own？ Any cold and cruel dawn may show it； Shattered；
desecrated； overthrown。
Only the dead Hearts forsake us never； Death's last kiss has been the
mystic sign Consecrating Love our own for ever； Crowning it eternal and
divine。
So when Fate would fain besiege our city； Dim our gold； or make our
flowers fall； Death the Angel； comes in love and pity； And to save our
treasures； claims them all。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A WOMAN'S ANSWER
I will not let you say a Woman's part Must be to give exclusive love
alone； Dearest； although I love you so； my heart Answers a thousand
claims beside your own。
I lovewhat do I not love？ earth and air Find space within my heart；
and myriad things You would not deign to heed； are cherished there； And
vibrate on its very inmost strings。
I love the summer with her ebb and flow Of light； and warmth； and
music that have nurst Her tender buds to blossoms 。 。 。 and you know It
was in summer that I saw you first。
I love the winter dearly too； 。 。 。 but then I owe it so much； on a
winter's day； Bleak； cold； and stormy； you returned again； When you had
been those weary months away。
I love the Stars like friends； so many nights I gazed at them； when you
were far from me； Till I grew blind with tears 。 。 。 those far…off lights
Could watch you； whom I longed in vain to see。
I love the Flowers； happy hours lie Shut up within their petals close
and fast： You have forgotten； dear： but they and I Keep every fragment
of the golden Past。
I love； too； to be loved； all loving praise Seems like a crown upon my
Life；to make It better worth the giving； and to raise Still nearer to your
own the heart you take。
I love all good and noble souls；I heard One speak of you but lately；
and for days Only to think of it； my soul was stirred In tender memory of
such generous praise。
I love all those who love you； all who owe Comfort to you： and I can
find regret Even for those poorer hearts who once could know； And once
could love you； and can now forget。
Well； is my heart so narrowI； who spare Love for all these？ Do I
not even hold My favourite books in special tender care； And prize them
as a miser does his gold？
The Poets that you used to read to me While summer twilights faded in
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
the sky； But most of all I think Aurora Leigh； Becausebecausedo you
remember why？
Will you be jealous？ Did you guess before I loved so many things？
Still you the best：… Dearest； remember that I love you more； Oh； more a
thousand times than all the rest！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE STORY OF THE
FAITHFUL SOUL
FOUNDED ON AN OLD FRENCH LEGEND
The fettered Spirits linger In purgatorial pain； With penal fires effacing
Their last faint earthly stain； Which Life's imperfect sorrow Had tried to
cleanse in vain。
Yet on each feast of Mary Their sorrow finds release； For the Great
Archangel Michael Comes down and bids it cease； And the name of these
brief respites Is called 〃Our Lady's Peace。〃
Yet onceso runs the Legend … When the Archangel came And all
these holy spirits Rejoiced at Mary's name； One voice alone was wailing；
Still wailing on the same。
And though a great Te Deum The happy echoes woke； This one
discordant wailing Through the sweet voices broke； So when St。 Michael
questioned； Thus the poor spirit spoke：…
〃I am not cold or thankless； Although I still complain； I prize our
Lady's blessing Although it comes in vain To still my bitter anguish； Or
quench my ceaseless pain。
〃On earth a heart that loved me； Still lives and mourns me there； And
the shadow of his anguish Is more than I can bear； All the torment that I
suffer Is the thought of his despair。
〃The evening of my bridal Death took my Life away； Not all Love's
passionate pleading Could gain an hour's delay。 And he I left has suffered
A whole year since that day。
〃If I could only see him； … If I could only go And speak one word of
comfort And solace；then； I know He would endure with patience； And
strive against his woe。〃
Thus the Archangel answered：… 〃Your time of pain is brief； And soon
the peace of Heaven Will give you full relief； Yet if his earthly comfort So
much outweighs your grief；
〃Then； through a special merc