The Home Book of Verse Volume Ii Part 60

Thus art with arms contending was victor of the day, Which by a gift of learning did bear the maid away; Then lullaby, the learned man hath got the lady gays For now my song is ended.

Unknown

"I ASKED MY FAIR, ONE HAPPY DAY"

After Lessing

I asked my fair, one happy day, What I should call her in my lay; By what sweet name from Rome or Greece; Lalage, Neaera, Chloris, Sappho, Lesbia, or Doris, Arethusa or Lucrece.

"Ah!" replied my gentle fair, "Beloved, what are names but air?

Choose thou whatever suits the line; Call me Sappho, call me Chloris, Call me Lalage or Doris, Only--only call me thine."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge [1772-1834]

THE EXCHANGE

We pledged our hearts, my love and I,-- I in my arms the maiden clasping: I could not tell the reason why, But oh! I trembled like an aspen.

Her father's love she bade me gain; I went, and shook like any reed!

I strove to act the man--in vain!

We had exchanged our hearts indeed.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge [1772-1834]

"COMIN' THROUGH THE RYE"

Comin' through the rye, poor body, Comin' through the rye, She draiglet a' her petticoatie, Comin' through the rye.

Oh Jenny's a' wat poor body, Jenny's seldom dry; She draiglet a' her petticoatie, Comin' through the rye.

Gin a body meet a body, Comin' through the rye, Gin a body kiss a body, Need a body cry?

Gin a body meet a body Comin' through the glen, Gin a body kiss a body, Need the warld ken?

Robert Burns [1759-1796]

"GREEN GROW THE RASHES, O!"

There's naught but care on every han', In every hour that pa.s.ses, O!

What signifies the life o' man, An' 'twere na for the la.s.ses, O?

Green grow the rashes, O!

Green grow the rashes, O!

The sweetest hours that e'er I spend, Are spent amang the la.s.ses, O!

The warl'ly race may riches chase, An' riches still may fly them, O!

An' though at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O!

Gie me a canny hour at e'en; My arms about my dearie, O!

An' warl'ly cares, an' warl'ly men, May a' gae tapsalteerie, O!

For you sae douce, ye sneer at this; Ye'er naught but senseless a.s.ses, O!

The wisest man the warl' e'er saw He dearly loved the la.s.ses, O!

Auld Nature swears the lovely dears Her n.o.blest work she cla.s.ses, O!

Her 'prentice han' she tried on man, An' then she made the la.s.ses, O!

Robert Burns [1759-1796]

DEFIANCE

Catch her and hold her if you can-- See, she defies you with her fan, Shuts, opens, and then holds it spread In threatening guise above your head.

Ah! why did you not start before She reached the porch and closed the door?

Simpleton! will you never learn That girls and time will not return; Of each you should have made the most; Once gone, they are forever lost.

In vain your knuckles knock your brow, In vain will you remember how Like a slim brook the gamesome maid Sparkled, and ran into the shade.

Walter Savage Landor [1775-1864]

OF CLEMENTINA

In Clementina's artless mien Lucilla asks me what I see, And are the roses of sixteen Enough for me?

Lucilla asks, if that be all, Have I not culled as sweet before: Ah yes, Lucilla! and their fall I still deplore.

I now behold another scene, Where Pleasure beams with Heaven's own light, More pure, more constant, more serene, And not less bright.

Faith, on whose breast the Loves repose, Whose chain of flowers no force can sever, And Modesty who, when she goes, Is gone for ever.

Walter Savage Landor [1775-1864]