IDYLL XIV

THE Love OF Æ SHINES

Thyonichus Æschines

Æschines

H AIL , sir Thyonichus
Thyonichus . Æschines, to you.
Æschines . I have missed thee
Thyonichus . Missed me! Why what ails him now?
Æschines . My friend, I am ill at ease.
Thyonichus . Then this explains
Thy leanness, and thy prodigal moustache
And dried-up curls. Thy counterpart I saw.

I THANK thee, Love, that thou hast overthrown
The tyranny of Self; I would not now
Even in desire, possess thee mine alone
In land-locked anchorage: nay rather go,
Ride the high seas, the fruitless human seas,
Where white-winged ships are set for barren shores,
Though freighted all, those lovely argosies,
And laden with a wealth of rarest stores.
Go, draw them after thee, and lead them on
With thine own music, to the ideal west,
Where, in the youth of ages, vaguely shone
The term of all, the Islands of the Blest.

Interpretation of Dreams.

Yesterday I in a dream saw her whom I love at the window;
What saw I when awake? only the flowers she gave.
But in my dreaming to-day, bright flow'rs I saw by the window;
Surely to-day will ere long shew me the darling herself!

Love's Arrow.

Love! thine arrow of might my heart hath mortally stricken;
Now in Elysian realms wake I, already in bliss!

Sonet 2

V P on the Hill of happinesse,
In beautie's Gratious blessednes:
Bonerto's fairest Shepheardesse,
In wisdome's honors worthinesse:
Aglaia liues, long may shee liue.
The worth that doth this wonder giue.

An Eye in which faire beautie's light
Hath none of Phaebus killing sight:
But of a farre more heauenly Grace,
To warme the heart, not burne the face:
A fore-head that faire fronte of blisse
That shewes where beautie graced is.

A Haire that holdes the heart's affections

A Riddle propounded by a Gentleman to a Gentilwoman whom he loued, but was a suter, but secretly
The thing on earth you most desire,
and yet of all you lest would chuse:
That often times you doo require,
and yet I know you will refuse:
And thaThere present you may see
All this is one: what may it be?

Verses written vpon this occasion: a yong Gentleman, falling in loue with a faire yong Damsell, not knowing how to make manifest vnto her the great good will he bare her: vsing certaine talke vnto her, in the end of her talke demaunded of her, whether she could or no? she answered yea: vpon which yea, he wrote these verses following, and found time to present them vnto her presently, as he wrote them.
I F thou canst reade, then marke what heere I write:
And what thou readst, beleeue it to be true;
And doo not thinke, I doo but toyes indite:

The next day after that he had written this passion of Ioue, dyuers Gentle-women being then in the house: he was intreted by two or three of them at once, to make some verses: and one among the rest, being very desirous to haue her request fulfilled, brought him a Pen, and ynke, and Paper: with earnest intreaty, to make some verses, upon what matter he thought best him. selfe: he, very vnwilling to write, not knowing of a sodain, how to please them all in vearse, and yet desirous to graunt all their requests, with much adooe, was in the end intreated to write, as followeth.

THE ARGUMENT

Since that the passing panges of looue,
Which many Loouers ofte doo prooue:
I fynde the cause, from time to time,
That made men shew their mindes in rime
I doo intend, in verses few
A dolorous discourse to shew,
Of one that was bewitcht in looue:
What passing pangues he ofte did prooue
In which God wot the more his paine
Euen till his death he did remaine.

I F I had skill to frame a cunning Vearse

( AFTER AN EVENING SPENT IN READING THE BIG BOYS )

HONEYMOON

Ponder, darling, these busted statues,
Be aware of the forum, sweet;
Feel the centuries tearing at youse —
Don't keep asking me when we eat!

Look, my love, where the hills hang drowsy;
Caesar watched them, a-wondering, here.
Get yon goddesses, chipped and lousy —
Don't be trying to bite my ear!

Child, consider the clouds above you,