To some 'tis given to walk awhile In Love's unshaded noon, But clouds are gathering while they smile, And night is coming soon! Most happy he whose journey lies Beneath the starlight sheen Of unregretful memories Of glory that has been. We live together years and years, And leave unsounded still Each other's springs of hopes and fears, Each other's depths of will: We live together day by day, And some chance look or tone Lights up with instantaneous ray Then wonder not that they who love The longest and the best, Are parted by some sudden move Of passion or unrest : Nor marvel that the wise and good Should oft apart remain, Nor dare, when once misunderstood, Come, Death! and match thy quiet gloom With being's darkling strife, Come, set beside the lonely Tomb, The Solitude of Life ; And henceforth none who see can fear Thy hour, which some will crave, Who feel their hearts, while beating here, RICHARD, LORD HOUGHTON. NOT TO BE. HE rose said, "Let but this long rain be past, But when dawn sparkled through unclouded air, The lark said, "Let but winter be away, And blossoms come, and light, and I will soar, And lose the earth, and be the voice of day;" But when the snows were o'er, But when spring broke in blueness overhead, And myriad roses made the garden glow, And skylarks carolled all the summer longWhat lack of birds to sing and flowers to blow? Yet, ah, lost scent, lost song! Poor empty rose, poor lark that never trilled! Dead unfulfilled! AUGUSTA WEBSTER. POO soon so fair, fair lilies; The folded bud has still To-morrows at its will, Blown flowers can never blow again. Too soon so bright, bright noontide; The sun that now is high Will henceforth only sink Day that's at prime begins to die. Too soon so rich, ripe summer, For autumn tracks thee fast; Lo, death-marks on the leaf! For summer come is summer past. |