DIS ALITER VISUM; OR, LE BYRON DE NOS JOURS. 1. Stop, let me have the truth of that! Is that all true? I say, the day Met on a morning, friends . as thus 2. Did you — because I took your arm And sillily smiled, “A mass of brass That sea looks, blazing underneath !” While up the cliff-road edged with heath, We took the turns nor came to harm 3. Did you consider 6 Now makes twice That I have seen her, walked and talked With this poor, pretty, thoughtful thing, Whose worth I weigh: she tries to sing; Draws, hopes in time the eye grows nice; 4. 6 Reads verse and thinks she understands ; Loves all, at any rate, that 's great, Good, beautiful ; but much as we Down at the Bath-house love the sea, Who breathe its salt and bruise its sands : : 5. “ While ... do but follow the fishing-gull That flaps and floats from wave to cave ! There's the sea-lover, fair my friend! ! What then? Be patient, mark and mend ! Had you the making of your scull?” 6. And did you, when we faced the church With spire and sad slate roof, aloof From human fellowship so far, Where a few graveyard crosses are, And garlands for the swallows' perch, 7. Did you determine, as we stepped O’er the lone stone fence, “ Let me get Her for myself, and what 's the earth With all its art, verse, music, worth Compared with love, found, gained, and kept? 8. “ Schumann 's our music-maker now ; Has his march-movement youth and mouth? Ingres 's the modern man that paints ; Which will lean on me, of his saints ? Heine for songs; for kisses, how?” 9. And did you, when we entered, reached The votive frigate, soft aloft Riding on air this hundred years, Safe-smiling at old hopes and fears, Did you draw profit while she preached ? 10. Resolving “ Fools we wise men grow! Yes, I could easily blurt out curt Some question that might find reply As prompt in her stopped lips, dropped eye, And rush of red to cheek and brow: 11. « Thus were a match made, sure and fast, 'Mid the blue weed-flowers round the mound Where, issuing, we shall stand and stay For one more look at Baths and bay, Sands, sea-gulls, and the old church last 12. “A match 'twixt me, bent, wigged, and lamed, Famous, however, for verse and worse, Sure of the Fortieth spare Arm-chair 13. “ And this young beauty, round and sound As a mountain-apple, youth and truth With loves and doves, at all events With money in the Three per Cents; Whose choice of me would seem profound : 14. “ She might take me as I take her. Perfect the hour would pass, alas ! An hour's perfection can't recur. 1 15. “ Then follows Paris and full time 6 For both to reason : Thus with us !' She 'll sigh, “Thus girls give body and soul At first word, think they gain the goal, When 't is the starting-place they climb! 16. 6. My friend makes verse and gets renown; Have they all fifty years, his peers ? Boys will become as much one day: 17. « «For boys say, Love me or I die! He did not say, The truth is, youth I'd catch youth : lend me sight and touch ! Drop heart's blood where life's wheels grate dry! 66 18. “ While I should make rejoinder" - (then It was, no doubt, you ceased that least Light pressure of my arm in yours) “I can conceive of cheaper cures For a yawning-fit o'er books and men. 666 |