A FALSE STEP. MRS BROWNING. WEET, thou hast trod on a heart. And women as fair as thou art Must do such things now and then. Thou only hast stepped unaware, Malice, not one can impute; And why should a heart have been there In the way of a fair woman's foot? It was not a stone that could trip, Nor was it a thorn that could rend: Put up thy proud underlip! 'Twas merely the heart of a friend. A FALSE STEP. And yet peradventure one day, Thou, sitting alone at the glass, Remarking the bloom gone away, Where the smile in its dimplement was, And seeking around thee in vain From hundreds who flattered before Such a word as, "Oh, not in the main Thou 'lt sigh, very like, on thy part, "Of all I have known or can know, I wish I had only that heart I trod upon ages ago!" 71 A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS. MRS BROWNING. VE me, sweet, with all thou art, Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the lightest part, Love me in full being. Love me with thine open youth In its frank surrender; With the vowing of thy mouth, With its silence tender. Love me with thine azure eyes, Can Heaven's truth be wanting? A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS. Love me with their lids that fall Snow-like at first meeting; Love me with thine heart, that all Neighbours then see beating. Love me with thine hand stretched out Freely-open-minded: Love me with thy loitering foot Hearing one behind it. Love me with thy voice, that turns Sudden faint above me; Love me with thy blush that burns Love me with thy thinking soul Break it to love-sighing; Love me with thy thoughts that roll On through living-dying. Love me in thy gorgeous airs, When the world has crowned thee; 73 74 A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS. Love me kneeling at thy prayers, With the angels round thee. Love me pure, as musers do, Up the woodlands shady; Love me gaily, fast and true, As a winsome lady. Through all hopes that keep us brave, Further off or nigher; Love me for the house and grave, And for something higher. Thus, if thou wilt prove me, dear, I will love thee-half a year As a man is able. |