The darling gaud of all of them- I've cased the rubies of thy smiles, The stealthy kiss on Maple-wold. RICHARD, LORD HOUGHTON. I. EEK not the tree of silkiest bark And balmiest bud, To carve her name while yet 'tis dark Upon the wood. The world is full of noble tasks, And wreaths hard won: Each work demands strong hearts, strong hands, Till day is done. II. Sing not that violet-veinèd skin, That cheek's pale roses, The lily of that form wherein Her soul reposes: Forth to the fight, true man, true knight ; The clash of arms Shall more prevail than whispered tale To win her charms. SEEK NOT THE TREE OF SILKIEST BARK. 95 The warrior for the True, the Right, Fight's in Love's name : The love that lures thee from that fight Lures thee to shame : The love which lifts the heart, yet leaves The spirit free, That love, or none, is fit for one Man-shaped, like thee. AUBREY DE VERE. N the long enchanted weather, And fields were bright with blossoming, When the poet lay for hours, Or for hours stood beholding Its casket of rich jewelries, And boundless wealth outpoured; Saw the precious-looking roses Its glowing hand uncloses, The pearls of dew and emeralds. Spread over grass and sward; When he heard besides the singing, Mysterious voices ringing With clear unearthly ecstasies Through earth and sky and air; Then he wondered for whose pleasure At whose feet it was laid : Yea, for what celestial leman, But his heart constrained him, sinking Back to its sweetest thinking, His lady all to celebrate, And tell her beauty's worth. And he sought at length what tender Oh, the love within him overflowed, So he took, in his emotion, Of sadness from the wind; G |