Into the lonely park all frozen fast, Awhile ago there were two forms who passed. Lo, are their lips fallen and their eyes dead, Hardly shall a man hear the words they said. Into the lonely park, all frozen fast, There came two shadows who recall the past. "Dost thou remember our old ecstasy?"-- "Wherefore should I possess that memory?"-- "Doth thine heart beat at my sole name alway? Still dost thou see my soul in visions?" "Nay!"-- "They were fair days of joy unspeakable, Whereon our lips were joined?"--"I cannot tell."-- "Were not the heavens blue, was not hope high?"-- "Hope has fled vanquished down the darkling sky."-- So through the barren oats they wanderèd, And the night only heard the words they said. III SPLEEN Around were all the roses red, The ivy all around was black. Dear, so thou only move thine head, Shall all mine old despairs awake! Too blue, too tender was the sky, The air too soft, too green the sea. Always I fear, I know not why, Some lamentable flight from thee. I am so tired of holly-sprays And weary of the bright box-tree, Of all the endless country ways; Of everything alas! save thee. IV The sky is up above the roof So blue, so soft! A tree there, up above the roof, Swayeth aloft. A bell within that sky we see, Chimes low and faint: A bird upon that tree we see, Maketh complaint. Dear God! is not the life up there, Simple and sweet? How peacefully are borne up there Sounds of the street! What hast thou done, who comest To weep alway? Where hast thou laid, who comest here, Thy youth away? TO HIS MISTRESS There comes an end to summer, To spring showers and hoar rime; His mumming to each mummer Has somewhere end in time, And since life ends and laughter, And leaves fall and tears dry, Who shall call love immortal, When all that is must die? Nay, sweet, let's leave unspoken The vows the fates gainsay, For all vows made are broken, We love but while we may. Let's kiss when kissing pleases, And part when kisses pall, Perchance, this time to-morrow, We shall not love at all. You ask my love completest, As strong next year as now, The devil take you, sweetest, Ere I make aught such vow. Life is a masque that changes, A fig for constancy! No love at all were better, Than love which is not free. JADIS Erewhile, before the world was old, When violets grew and celandine, In Cupid's train we were enrolled: Erewhile! Your little hands were clasped in mine, Your head all ruddy and sun-gold Lay on my breast which was your shrine, And all the tale of love was told: Ah, God, that sweet things should decline, And fires fade out which were not cold, Erewhile. IN A BRETON CEMETERY