NEWBORN DEATH (II) A ND thou, O Life, the lady of all bliss, With whom, when our first heart beat full and fast, I wandered till the haunts of men were pass'd, And in fair places found all bowers amiss Till only woods and waves might hear our kiss, No smile to greet me and no babe but this? Lo! Love, the child once ours; and Song, whose hair EAUTY still walketh on the earth and air: BEAUTY still walleth on the far in gold Β Our present sunsets are as rich in gold As ere the Iliad's music was out-rolled; The roses of the Spring are ever fair, 'Mong branches green still ring-doves coo and pair, And the deep sea still foams its music old. So, if we are at all divinely souled, This beauty will unloose our bonds of care. 'Tis pleasant when blue skies are o'er us bending Within old starry-gated Poesy, To meet a soul set to no worldly tune, Like thine, sweet friend! Oh, dearer this to me TO DR. JOHN BROWN EYOND the north wind lay the land of old B where men dwelt blithe and blameless, clothed and fed With joy's bright raiment and with love's sweet bread, None there might wear about his brows enrolled The night of death's sweet sleep, wherein may be ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A REMINISCENCE HE rose to the wind has yielded: all its leaves TLie strewn on the graveyard grass, and all their light And colour and fragrance leave our sense and sight Who knows, though he see the snow-cold blossom shed, DELIVERANCE (VIA DOLOROSA II) DEATH, fair Death, sole comforter and sweet, as As words of men or snowflakes on the wind. But if wechide thee, saying "Thou hast sinned, thou hast sinned, As shone but late, though shadowed, in our skies,” |