Be happy as of old, remembering not
The little shower that gathered at the break
Of dawns so blue and golden. For to you,
Sad-hearted Alien, have I come afar
By many lands and seas to lure you back,—
Back where the olive groves and laughing hills
Still glow so purple from Aeolia’s coast
And all the harbour-lights have watched so long,
Like weary eyes, for you to come again.
Sappho
Yes, well I know them where their paths of gold
Once lay like wavering music on the sea.
Phaon
And slowly there, like wine with honey made
Too sweet, our languid days shall flow.
Sappho
Too sweet, our languid days shall flow. O home
Where we so long ago were happy once!
Phaon
’Twas but a little time I went from you,
And I have sorrowed for it, and am wise;
And with my wisdom, lo, the tremulous wings
Of twilight love have now flown home again.
Sappho
It is too late, my Phaon.
It is too late, my Phaon. Your light hand
Has crushed the silver goblet of my heart,
And all the wine is spilt; the page is read,
And from the tale the olden glory gone;
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