You call it Sundew: how it grows, My Sundew! grown of gentle days, O red-lipp'd mouth of marsh-flower! The hard sun, as thy petals knew, O Sundew! not remembering Her. RONDEL. These many years, since we began to be, What have the Gods done with us? what with me, What with my love? They have shown me fates and fears, Harsh springs, and fountains bitterer than the sea, Grief a fix'd star, and joy a vane that veers, These many years. With her, my Love, with her have they done well? Sweet things or sad, such things as no man hears? From eyes more dear to me than starriest spheres, But if tears ever touch'd, for any grief, Those eyelids folded like a white-rose leaf, Deep double shells where through the eye-flower peers, Brief tears and bright, for One who gave her tears JAMES THOMSON. 1834-1882. THE THREE THAT SHALL BE ONE. Love, on the earth alit (Come to be Lord of it), Look'd round and laugh'd with glee : Noble my empery! Straight ere that laugh was done Sprang forth the royal sun, Pouring out golden shine Over the realm divine. Came then a lovely May, Love with swift rapture cried- Sun, moon, and stars, gem So they together fare, All through their Eden home, An ever-new delight: Blue heaven and blooming earth Who comes to meet them now? In her deep reverie. Life paled as she drew near, Love shook with doubt and fear. Ah, then (she said) in truth (Eyes full of yearning ruth) Love! thou wouldst have this Life, Fair May, to be thy wife? Yet at an awful shrine Wert thou not plighted mine? Pale, paler poor Life grew; Love murmur'd-It is true! Yet, O beloved Death! See how She suffereth: Ere we from earth depart, Soothe her, thou Tender-Heart! Faint on the ground she lay : Then I will come for thee: WAITING. O, what are you waiting for here? young man! "Her heart beats the measure that keeps her feet dancing, Dancing along like a wave o' the sea; Her heart pours the sunshine with which her eyes glancing Light up strange faces, in looking for me. "The strange faces brighten in meeting her glances; "O, thousands and thousands of happy young maidens O what are you waiting for here? young man ! 66 JOHN HAY. A WOMAN'S LOVE. A sentinel angel sitting high in glory Heard this shrill wail ring out from Purgatory :— 'Have mercy, mighty angel! hear my story. "I loved, and, blind with passionate love, I fell. Love brought me down to death, and death to Hell: For God is just, and death for sin is well. "I do not rage against His high decree, "Great Spirit! let me see my Love again, And comfort him one hour, and I were fain To pay a thousand years of fire and pain! Then said the pitying angel-"Nay! repent But still she wail'd-" I pray thee let me go! The brazen gates ground sullenly ajar, But soon adown the dying sunset sailing, |