HARK! HARK! THE LARK AT HEAVEN'S GATE SINGS. ARK! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings, And Phoebus 'gins arise, His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes; With everything that pretty bin, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue, Over my heart, in the days that are flown, Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold, Its dearest tokens only make me mourn; Linger not long! Linger not long! though crowds should woo thy staying, Bethink thee, can the mirth of friends, though dear, Compensate for the grief thy long delaying Costs the sad heart that sighs to have thee here? Linger not long! Linger not long! How shall I watch thy coming, As evening shadows stretch o'er moor and deliWhen the wild bee hath ceased her busy humming, And silence hangs on all things like a spell? Linger not long! How shall I watch for thee when fears grow stronger, As night draws dark and darker on the hill? How shall I weep, when I can watch no longer? Oh! thou art absent-art thou absent still? Linger not long! Yet though I dream not, though the eye that seeth thee Gazeth through tears that make its splendor dull, For oh! I sometimes fear, when thou art with me, My cup of happiness is all too full! Linger not long! Haste-haste thee home unto thy mountain dwelling; Haste as a bird unto its peaceful nest! Haste as a skiff, when tempests wild are swelling, Flies to its haven of securest rest! Linger not long. COVE is enough. Let us not seek for gold. Wealth breeds false aims, and pride and selfishness; In those serene, Arcadian days of old, Love is enough. Why should we care for fame? Far from the happy haunts of peace and rest. Love is enough. Why should we strive for power? Love is enough. Why should we ask for more? Than our fond hearts that love and love again? Old love may die; new love is just as sweet; And life is fair, and all the world complete; Love is enough. ELLA WHEELER. |