Can Eagles' birds fly lower than their kind?
Or can ambition stoop to servile gain?
Can free-born breasts be forc'd against their mind,
To put the mask of love upon disdain?
Can Love be bought? Can avarice constrain
Great Cupid to do homage unto gold?
Can he his wings, can he his flames restrain,
Or be induc'd to wish as worldlings would?
No, no, my fate is in the heavens enroll'd,
Men's laws may force my life, but not my love,
Men may my eyes, but not my heart, behold,
My eyes may their's, my heart my own, shall prove.

I ONCE loved a boy, and a bold Irish boy,
Far away in the hills of the West;
Ah! the love of that boy was my jewel of joy,
And I built him a bower in my breast,
In my breast;
And I built him a bower in my breast.

I once loved a boy, and I trusted him true,
And I built him a bower in my breast;
But away, wirrasthrue! the rover he flew,
And robbed my poor heart of its rest,
Of its rest;
And robbed my poor heart of its rest.

The spring-time returns, and the sweet speckled thrush
Murmurs soft to his mate on her nest,

In the twilight darkling
When the sky was violet
And the stars were faintly sparkling
Thus it was we met,

In a lonely meadow
Carpeted with crocuses
Underneath the tangled shadow
Of the apple trees.

Long and fain we lingered
Whilst the world lay hushed in sleep
Till the dawning rosy-fingered
Clomb the eastern steep.

Priest nor ceremony
Or of Orient or Rome
Bound to me my love, mine honey
In the honey-comb,

Who, albeit of human
Things the most sublime he knew,
Left me, to espouse a woman
As the people do.

That night, when storms were spent and tranquil heaven,
Clear-eyed with stars and fragrant with fresh air,
Slept after thunder, came a sound of song,
And a keen voice that through the forest cried
On Ithocles, and still on Ithocles,
Persistent, till the woods and caverns rang.
He in his lair close-lying and tear-tired
Heard, knew the cry, and trembled. Nearer still
And nearer vibrated the single sound.
Yet, though much called for, Ithocles abode
Prone, deeming that the gods had heard his prayer,
And spake not. Till at the cave-door there stayed

Oh , how could I venture to love one like thee,
And you not despise a poor conquest like me,
On lords, thy admirers, could look wi' disdain,
And knew I was naething, yet pitied my pain?
You said, while they teased you with nonsense and dress,
When real the passion, the vanity's less;
You saw through that silence which others despise,
And, while beaux were a-talking, read love in my eyes

Oh, how shall I fauld thee, and kiss a' thy charms,
Till, fainting wi' pleasure, I die in your arms;
Through all the wild transports of ecstasy tost,

Oh , unhappy stars! your fate I mourn,
Ye by whom the sea-toss'd sailor's lighted,
Who with radiant beams the heav'ns adorn,
But by gods and men are unrequited:
For ye love not,—ne'er have learnt to love!
Ceaselessly in endless dance ye move,
In the spacious sky your charms displaying.
What far travels ye have hasten'd through,
Since, within my loved one's arms delaying,
I've forgotten you and midnight too!

1. I love the Lord, because he doth My voice and prayer hear,
2. The pangs of death on every side About beset me round;
And in my days will call because He bowed to me his ear.
The pains of hell gat hold on me, Distress and grief I found.

3. Upon Jehovah's name therefore
I callèd and did say,
Deliver thou my soul, O Lord,
I do thee humbly pray.

4. Gracious the Lord and just, our God
Is merciful also.
The Lord the simple keeps, and he
Saved me when I was low.

5. O thou, my soul, do thou return
Unto thy quiet rest,

If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong
As this which binds me unto Thee,
What holds me from Thee, Lord, so long,
What holds Thee, Lord, so long from me?

O soul, what then desirest thou?
--Lord, I would see Thee, who thus choose Thee.
What fears can yet assail thee now?
--All that I fear is but to lose Thee.

Love's whole possession I entreat,
Lord, make my soul Thine own abode,
And I will build a nest so sweet
It may not be too poor for God.

O soul in God hidden from sin,
What more desires for thee remain,

I love the stone of your threshold,
I love the path without it,
I love the briar in its borders,
With the brave young plants about it
There is pleasure in sight of your windows,
And passing, in decorous night,
I smile my love to your window
And bow my love to your light.

Together by bright water
We sat, my love and I.
Light as a skimming swallow
The perfect hour went by
With words like ripples breaking
On full thoughts softly waking;
With thoughts so dear and shy
That no word dared to follow.

Down by that sunny water
The spring's sweet voice we heard.
The wind, the leaves' young lover,
My love's hair gently stirred.
An hour ago we parted;
I wander heavy-hearted.
Heavily, like a wounded bird,
The day lags, night draws over.