A twinge of longing now and then Will vex, no doubt, the happiest men. In summer I could wish outside Upon the dove-cote roof to bide, With just beneath the garden bright And stretch of greensward too in sight. Or else again in winter time, When, as today, the weather's prime:-- Now I've begun, I'll say it out We've got a sleigh here, staunch and stout, All colored, yellow, black and green; Just freshly painted, neat and clean; And on the dashboard proudly strutting A strange, new-fangled fowl is sitting: Now if they'd have me fixed up right-- The whole expense would be but slight-- I'd stand there quite as well as he And none need feel ashamed of me! --Fool! I reply, accept your fate, And be not so immoderate. Perhaps 'twould suit your high behest If some one, for a common jest, Would take you, stove and all, away And set you up there on the sleigh, With all the family round you too: Man, woman, child--the whole blest crew! Old image, what! so shameless yet, And prone on gauds your mind to set? Think on your latter end at last! Your hundredth year's already past. * * * * * THINK OF IT, MY SOUL![30] (1852) Somewhere a pine is green, Just where who knoweth, And in a garth unseen A rose-tree bloweth. These are ordained for thee-- Think, oh soul, fixedly-- Over thy grave to be; Swift the time floweth. Two black steeds on the down Briskly are faring, Or on their way to town Canter uncaring. These may with heavy tread Slowly convey the dead E'en ere the shoes be shed They now are wearing. * * * * * ERINNA TO SAPPHO[31] (1863) (Erinna was a Greek poetess, a friend and pupil of Sappho of Lesbos. She died at the age of nineteen.)