So the sweet lark, high poised in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast 66 "O Susan, Susan, lovely dear ! My vows shall ever true remain ; Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be "Beliève not what the landmen say Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind: They'll tell thee, sailors, when away, In every port a mistress find. Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so; "If to far India's coast we sail, Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin is ivory so white: Thus every beauteous object that I view "Though battle call me from thy arms, Let not my pretty Susan mourn : Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye." The boatswain gave the dreadful word, They kissed, she sighed, he hung his head. JOHN GAY. SUMMER LONGINGS. OWN by the sea, down by the sea, DOWN for me. cool sandy beach lies waiting for me. The surf it may dash; Be it sunshine or storm, for my coming they wait: Star-fish and mussel, and sweet-smiling skate All things of the sea Are waiting for me. Down by the sea, down by the sea, Croquet in the shade, Or music at nightfall, with lamps on the lawn, Are waiting for me. Down by the sea, down by the sea, A beautiful maiden is waiting for me: Nor wherefore she came ; But I know by the moon overhead that it shines On the shore where a lady fair wanders and pines, (The maiden, you see, Who's waiting for me.) Down by the sea, down by the sea, The morrow shall find me if morrow there be. And live in her smile; Enjoy the piazza, the surf, and the plash; To the dusty old store, And see her no more. Heigho! ANONYMOUS. THE SEA. (THE LOVER.) You stooped, and picked a red-lipped shell Beside the shining sea : "This little shell, when I am gone, I kissed your hands upon the sands, I hold the shell against my ear, But speaks of you no more. I pace the sands, and wring my hands, For you are kind no more. RICHARD HENRY STODDARD. THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS. HIS is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign, THIS is the of pear The venturous bark that flings On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings And coral-reefs lie bare, Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair. Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl: And every chambered cell, Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell, Its irised ceiling rent, its sunless crypt unsealed. Year after year beheld the silent toil That spread his lustrous coil. Still, as the spiral grew, He left the past year's dwelling for the new, Stole with soft step its shining archway through, Built up its idle door, Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more. Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee, Cast from her lap forlorn! From thy dead lips a clearer note is born Than ever Triton blew from wreathed horn. While on mine ear it rings, Through the deep caves of thought I hear a voice that "Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul ! As the swift seasons roll; Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!" OLIVER WENDELL HOLmes. A THE LONG WHITE SEAM. SI came round the harbor-buoy, No wave the land-locked harbor stirred; It's aye sewing ashore, my dear, It's reef and furl and haul the line, I climbed to reach her cottage-door: Oh, sweetly my love sings; Like a shaft of light her voice breaks forth; As the shining water leaped of old When stirred by angel wings. |