When his man-minded offset rose XIV. "And all that from the town would stroll, XV. "The slight she-slips of loyal blood, XVI. “And I have shadowed many a group XVII. "And, leg and arm with love-knots gay, About me leaped and laughed The modish Cupid of the day, XVIII. "I swear (and else may insects prick This girl, for whom your heart is sick, XIX. "For those and theirs, by Nature's law, Have faded long ago; But in these latter springs I saw Your own Olivia blow, XX. “From when she gambolled on the greens, A baby-germ, to when The maiden blossoms of her teens XXI. "I swear, by leaf, and wind, and rain, XXII. "Yet, since I first could cast a shade, XXIII. "For as to fairies, that will flit XXIV. O, hide thy knotted knees in fern, And from thy topmost branch discern XXV. But thou, whereon I carved her name, XXVI. "O yesterday, you know, the fair Was holden at the town; Her father left his good arm-chair, XXVII. “And with him Albert came on his. So seems she to the boy. XXVIII. An hour had past-and, sitting straight XXIX. "But, as for her, she stayed at home, And on the roof she went, And down the way you use to come XXX. "She left the novel half-uncut XXXI. "Then ran she, gamesome as the colt, And livelier than a lark She sent her voice through all the holt Before her, and the park. XXXII. "A light wind chased her on the wing, And in the chase grew wild, As close as might be would he cling XXXIII. "But light as any wind that blows So fleetly did she stir, The flower, she touched on, dipt and rose, And turned to look at her. XXXIV. "And here she came, and round me played, And sang to me the whole Of those three stanzas that you made XXXV. "And in a fit of frolic mirth XXXVI. "I wished myself the fair young beech That round me, clasping each in each, XXXVII. "Yet seemed the pressure thrice as sweet As woodbine's fragile hold, Or when I feel about my feet XXXVIII. O muffle round thy knees with fern, XXXIX. But tell me, did she read the name When last with throbbing heart I came XL. "O yes, she wandered round and round These knotted knees of mine, And found, and kissed the name she found, And sweetly murmured thine. XLI. "A tear-drop trembled from its source, My sense of touch is something coarse, XLII. “Then flushed her cheek with rosy light, XLIII. "Her kisses were so close and kind, XLIV. "And even into my inmost ring XLV. "Thrice-happy he that may caress The cushions of whose touch may press |