Ah! the little gold curls Soft about his face; Now my heart is sorrowful For his sleeping-place.

But he would pursue me, Never let me rest; Till I turned and slew him, Knowing it were best.

Laid his bow beside him, Shovelled in the clay; To-morrow I’ll forget him; Let me weep to-day.

p. 40WHAT WILL YOU GIVE?

p. 40

What will you give me, if I will wed?  “A golden gown To come sweetly down, And deck you from foot to head.”

How will you keep me, if I am cold?  “By a heart so warm, The bravest storm Dare not force through my strong hands’ hold.”

How will you please me, if I should thirst?  “Why by the rape Of the purple grape, Which the summer and sun have nursed.”

If I should hunger what may I eat?  “For you the skies The falcon flies, And the hounds on the stag are fleet.”

How can you comfort when fair youth dies, When the spirit’s fain For a purer gain, Than the satisfied flesh supplies?

p. 41“But this I promise, when starved and cold A lonely soul Finds for its goal A six-foot bed and churchyard mould.”

p. 41

p. 42A MEADOW TRAGEDY

p. 42

Here’s a meadow full of sunshine Ripe grasses lush and high; There’s a reaper on the roadway, And a lark hangs in the sky.

There’s a nest of love enclosing Three little beaks that cry; The reapers in the meadow And a lark hangs in the sky.

Here’s a mead all full of summer, And tragedy goes by With a knife amongst the grasses, And a song up in the sky.

p. 43AN ECLIPSE

p. 43

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