POEMS. CLARIBEL. A MELODY. WHERE Claribel low-lieth The breezes pause and die, Letting the rose-leaves fall : But the solemn oak-tree sigheth, Thick-leaved, ambrosial, With an ancient melody Of an inward agony, Where Claribel low-lieth. At eve the beetle boometh Athwart the thicket lone : At noon the wild bee hummeth About the moss'd headstone: At midnight the moon cometh, And looketh down alone. Her song the lintwhite swelleth, The clear-voiced mavis dwelleth, The fledgling throstle lispeth, The slumbrous wave outwelleth, The babbling runnel crispeth, The hollow grot replieth Where Claribel low-lieth. LILIAN. AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, She 'll not tell me if she love me, When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs She, looking thro' and thro' me Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, From beneath her gather'd wimple Glancing with black-beaded eyes, Till the lightning laughters dimple The baby-roses in her cheeks; Then away she flies. Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse Wearieth me, May Lilian : Thro' my very heart it thrilleth When from crimson-threaded lips Silver-treble laughter trilleth : Prythee weep, May Lilian. Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian. ISABEL. EYES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed Pure vestal thoughts in the translucent fane Of perfect wifehood and pure The intuitive decision of a bright lowlihead. And thorough-edged intellect to part Error from crime; a prudence to withhold 1; The laws of marriage character'd in gold Upon the blanched tablets of her heart; A love still burning upward, giving light |