| Those faces brighten from the years A city of the world's gray prime, The Arachne-threads of Purpose stream From rose to red the level heaven burned; Then sudden, as if a sword fell from on high, A blade of gold flashed on the horizon's rim. THE SOWER. I. A SOWER went forth to sow, Thus did that Sower sow; II. When next I went that way. 329 The song of a sweet-voiced bird? Were sad of memory: And a golden harvest glowed! On my face I fell down there; I said: O God, thou art wise! WILLIAM BELL SCOTT. THE DANCE. (From "THE WITCH'S BALLAD."} O, I HAE come from far away, From a warm land far away, And I hae been to yon town, To try my luck in yon town: Nort, and Mysie, Elspie too, Right braw we were to pass the gate Wi' gowden clasps on girdles blue. Mysie smiled wi' miming mouth, Innocent mouth, miming mouth; Elspie wore her scarlet gown, Nort's gray eyes were unco' gleg, My Castile comb was like a crown. We walked abreast all up the street, Into the market up the street: Our hair wi' marygolds was wound, Our bodices wi' love-knots laced, Our merchandise wi' tansy bound. Nort had chickens, I had cocks, Gamesome cocks, loud-crowing cocks; Mysie ducks, and Elspie drakes. For a wee groat or a pound, We lost nae time wi' gives and takes. Lost nae time, for weel we knew, In our sleeves fu' weel we knew, When our chaffering a' was done, The market lasses looked and laughed, same. Sae loud the tongues o' raudies grew, Was thrust out ilka hand and face. And down each stair they thronged anon; Gentle, simple, thronged anon; Souter and tailor, frowzy Nan, The ancient widow young again Simpering behind her fan. Without choice, against their will, Doited, dazed against their will, The market lassie and her mither, The farmer and his husbandman, Hand in hand danced a' thegether. Slow at first, but faster soon, Still increasin' wild and fast, Hoods and mantles, hats and hose, Blindly doffed, and frae them cast, Left them naked, heads and toes. They would hae torn us limb frae limb, Dainty limb frae dainty limb; But never ane o' them could win Across the line that I had drawn Wi' bleeding thumb a-witherskin. There was Jeff the provost's son, All goodly men we singled out, And drew them by the left hand in, Three times round wi' kisses seven, Like the wind that sucks the sea, Over and in and on the sea, Laughed while they had sense or breath; Drawn up was I right off my feet, Into the mist and off my feet; We'll gang ance mair to yon town, ; For I was born a crowned king's child, Elspie's gowden husbandman; JOSEPH BRENNAN. COME TO ME, DEAREST. COME to me, dearest, I'm lonely without thee, Day-time and night-time, I'm thinking about thee; Night-time and day-time, in dreams I | I would not die without you at my side, behold thee; Unwelcome the waking which ceases to fold thee. Come to me, darling, my sorrows to lighten, Come in thy beauty to bless and to brighten; Come in thy womanhood, meekly and lowly, Come in thy lovingness, queenly and holy. Swallows will flit round the desolate ruin, Telling of spring and its joyous renewing And thoughts of thy love, and its manifold treasure, Are circling my heart with a promise of pleasure. O Spring of my spirit, O May of my bosom, Shine out on my soul, till it bourgeon and blossom; The waste of my life has a rose-root within it. love, Himself a model for all living men: Now when the years of mourning with their rites Were at an end, Confucius came forth Our hearts ever answer in tune and in And wandered as of old with other men, time, love, As octave to octave, and rhyme unto rhyme, love: I cannot weep but your tears will be flowing, You cannot smile but my cheek will be glowing; Giving his counsel unto many kings; But still the hand of grief was on hi heart, And his dark hue set forth his darkened |