III

Yet do not, though the world's cold school Some bitter truths has taught me,

O do not deem me quite the fool

Which wiser friends have thought me! There is one charm I still could feel, If no one laughed at feeling;

One dream my lute could still reveal, — If it were worth revealing.

IV

But Folly little cares what name
Of friend or foe she handles,
When merriment directs the game,
And midnight dims the candles;
I know that Folly's breath is weak
And would not stir a feather;
But yet I would not have her speak
Your name and mine together.

V

Oh no! this life is dark and bright,

Half rapture and half sorrow;

то

My heart is very full to-night,

My cup shall be to-morrow:

But they shall never know from me,
On any one condition,

Whose health made bright my Burgundy,
Whose beauty was my vision!

AN EXCUSE

BLAME not the Minstrel's wayward will:
His soul has slumbered all too long;
He has no pulse for passion's thrill,
No lute for passion's song.
O frown not, though he turns away
Unloved, unloving, even from thee,
And mars with idle jests the lay

Where Beauty's praise should be.

If he should bid the golden string
Be vocal to a loftier theme,

Sad Memory from her cell would bring
The fond forbidden dream;

The dream of her, whose broken chain

Than new forged bonds is far more dear; Whose name he may not speak again,

And shudders but to hear.

And if he breathes Love's hopes and fears many a soulless idol's shrine,

In

The falsehoods fit for vulgar ears

Were never fit for thine.

Take back, take back the book to-night:

Thou art too brightly — nobly fair,

For hearts so worn as his to write
Their worthless worship there.

SECOND LOVE

L'on n'aime bien qu'une seule fois: c'est la première. Les amours qui suivent sont moins involontaires! - LA BRUYÈRE.

How shall he woo her? - Let him stand

Beside her as she sings;

And watch that fine and fairy hand
Flit o'er the quivering strings:
And let him tell her he has heard,
Though sweet the music flow,
A voice whose every whispered word
Was sweeter, long ago.

In sad and silent trance

On those blue eyes, whose liquid rays

Look love in every glance:
And let him tell her, eyes more bright,

Though bright her own may beam,

Will fling a deeper spell to-night

Upon him in his dream.