Aubrey De Vere

1788-1846.

Song.

I.

S

oftly, O midnight Hours!

Move softly o’er the bowers

Where lies in happy sleep a girl so fair!

For ye have power, men say,

Our hearts in sleep to sway,

And cage cold fancies in a moonlight snare.

Round ivory neck and arm

Enclasp a separate charm:

Hang o’er her poised; but breathe nor sigh nor prayer:

Silently ye may smile,

But hold your breath the while,

And let the wind sweep back your cloudy hair!

II.

Bend down your glittering urns

Ere yet the dawn returns,

And star with dew the lawn her feet shall tread;

Upon the air rain balm;

Bid all the woods be calm;

Ambrosial dreams with healthful slumbers wed.

That so the Maiden may

With smiles your care repay

When from her couch she lifts her golden head;

Waking with earliest birds,

Ere yet the misty herds

Leave warm ’mid the grey grass their dusky bed.

Song.

S

eek not the tree of silkiest bark

And balmiest bud,

To carve her name—while yet ’t is 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.

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.

The warrior for the True, the Right,

Fights in Love’s name:

The love that lures thee from that fight

Lures thee to shame.

That love which lifts the heart, yet leaves

The spirit free,—

That love, or none, is fit for one,

Man-shaped like thee.

Song.

I.

W

hen I was young, I said to Sorrow,

“Come, and I will play with thee:”—

He is near me now all day;

And at night returns to say,

“I will come again to-morrow,

I will come and stay with thee.”

II.

Through the woods we walk together;

His soft footsteps rustle nigh me;

To shield an unregarded head,

He hath built a winter shed;

And all night in rainy weather,

I hear his gentle breathings by me.