Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/1119

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

ERNEST DOWSON

914 Vitae summa brevis sfem nos vet at incohare longam

THEY are not long, the weeping and the laughter, Love and desire and hate. I think they have no portion in us after We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:

Out of a misty dream Our path emerges for a while, then closes Within a dream.

LAURENCE BINYON

p/5 Invocation to Youth

COME then, as ever, like the wind at morning' Joyous, O Youth, in the aged world renew Freshness to feel the eternities around it,

Rain, stars and clouds, light and the sacred dew. The strong sun shines above thee" That strength, that radiance bring' If Winter come to Winter, When shall men hope for Spring ?

O World, be Nobler

O WORLD, be nobler, for her sake! If she but knew thcc what thou art, What wrongs aic borne, what deeds are done In thec, beneath thy daily sun,

Know'st thou not that her tender heart For pain and very shame would break? O World, be nobler, for her sake'

�� �