HEY NONNY NO!

Yet dwells the strain enshrined in the memory
Long after they departed eternally,

Forth-faring tow'rd far mountain summits,
Cities of men on the sounding Ocean.

Youth sang the song in years immemorial;
Brave chanticleer, he sang and was beautiful
Bird-haunted green tree-tops in springtime
Heard and were pleased by the voice of singing:

Youth goes and leaves behind him a prodigy—
Songs sent by thee afar from Venetian
Sea-grey lagunes, sea-paven highways,
Dear to me here in my Alpine exile.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Hey nonny no!

HEY nonny no!

Men are fools that wish to die!

Is't not fine to dance and sing

When the bells of death do ring?

Is 't not fine to swim in wine,

And turn upon the toe,

And sing hey nonny no!

When the winds blow and the seas flow?

Hey nonny no!

ANONYMOUS

THE BARGAIN

The Bargain

MY Y true love hath my heart, and I have his,

By just exchange one for another given:
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driven :

My true love hath my heart, and I have his.

His heart in me keeps him and me in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it bides:

My true love hath my heart, and I have his.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY

Crabbed Age and Youth

CRABBED Age and Youth

Cannot live together:

Youth is full of pleasance,
Age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn,
Age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave,

Age like winter bare.

Youth is full of sport,

Age's breath is short;

Youth is nimble, Age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold;

Youth is wild, and Age is tame.

COLLIGE ROSAS

Age, I do abhor thee;
Youth, I do adore thee;

O, my Love, my Love is young!
Age, I do defy thee:

O, sweet shepherd, hie thee!

For methinks thou stay'st too long.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Collige Rosas

GATHER me the rose, the rose, While yet in flower we find it, For summer smiles, but summer goes, And winter waits behind it.

For with the dream foregone, foregone,
The deed forborne for ever,

The worm Regret will canker on,
And Time will turn him never.

So well it were to love, my love,
And cheat of any laughter
The fate beneath us and above,

The dark before and after.

The myrtle and the rose, the rose,

The sunshine and the swallow,

The dream that comes, the wish that goes,

The memories that follow!

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

THE FORE-RUNNERS