Ah, how many weary days I have sought o'er wide earth's space. Titan, all thy sunny rays I have sent on her dear trace. Yet not one renews assurance Of the darling face I wot, Day, that finds all things, the durance Of my lost one, findeth not. "Hast thou ravished, Zeus, my daughter? Or, love-smitten by her charms, Hath, o'er Orcus's night-black water, Pluto snatched her in his arms? "Who towards that gloomy strand Herald of my grief will be? Ever floats the bark from land, Bearing phantoms ceaselessly. "Closed those shadowy fields are ever Unto any blessed sight. Since the Styx hath been a river, It hath borne no living wight. "There are thousand stairs descending, But not one leads upward there. To her tears no token lending, At the anxious mother's prayer." IV. Oh, my mother-in-law, Ceres, Cease thy cries, no longer mourn. I will grant thee, what so dear is, I myself so much have borne. Take thou comfort. We will fairly Thy child's ownership divide; And for six moons shall she yearly In the upper world abide. Help thee through long summer hours In thy husbandry affairs; Binding up for thee the flowers, While a new straw-hat she wears. She will dream when twilight pleasant Colors all the sky with rose; When by brooks some clownish peasant Sweetly on his sheep's pipe blows. Not a harvest dance without her, She will frisk with Jack and Bess; Midst the geese and calves about her She will prove a lioness. Hail, sweet rest! I breathe free, single, Here in Orcus far from strife, Punch with Lethe I will mingle, And forget I have a wife. V. At times thy glance appeareth to importune, As though thou didst some secret longing prove. Alas, too well I know it,--thy misfortune A life frustrated, a frustrated love. How sad thine eyes are! Yet have I no power To give thee back thy youth with pleasure rife; Incurably thy heart must ache each hour For love frustrated and frustrated life. THE VALE OF TEARS. The night wind through the crannies pipes, And in the garret lie Two wretched creatures on the straw, As gaunt as poverty. And one poor creature speaks and says, "Embrace me with thine arm, And press thy mouth against my mouth, Thy breath will keep me warm." The other starveling speaks and says, "When I look into thine eyes Pain, cold and hunger disappear, And all my miseries." They kissed full oft, still more they wept, Clasped hands, sighed deep and fast; They often laughed, they even sang, And both were still at last. With morning came the coroner, And brought a worthy leech, On either corpse to certify The cause of death of each. The nipping weather, he affirmed, Had finished the deceased. Their empty stomachs also caused, Or hastened death at last.