LOVE'S ROSES.
It chanced that late on a summer eve,
Young Love went scampering through the dew;
When Old Time met him, and cried, "By your leave,
Master Cupid, I'll have a few words with you:
Young Love went scampering through the dew;
When Old Time met him, and cried, "By your leave,
Master Cupid, I'll have a few words with you:
"The flowers you own are of great renown,
And you place them in every mortal breast;
But most of them fade before my frown,
As fast as the sun-rays from the west.
And you place them in every mortal breast;
But most of them fade before my frown,
As fast as the sun-rays from the west.
"I have only to walk around the stalk,
And scatter a handful of bitter seeds;
When lo! where the young rose used to be,
There dwelleth a crop of lasting weeds.
And scatter a handful of bitter seeds;
When lo! where the young rose used to be,
There dwelleth a crop of lasting weeds.
"But here and there (not oft, I allow)
I meet with a curious blossom of yours,
That lifteth its head 'neath my heaviest tread,
And is sweeter, methinks, for the crush it endures.
I meet with a curious blossom of yours,
That lifteth its head 'neath my heaviest tread,
And is sweeter, methinks, for the crush it endures.
"Many a vigorous effort I've made
To mow down that blossom so fairly blown;
But it turns the edge of my well-tried blade,
Though whetted anew on an old gravestone.
To mow down that blossom so fairly blown;
But it turns the edge of my well-tried blade,
Though whetted anew on an old gravestone.
"I have hidden the worm in the innermost germ,
I have sprinkled the leaves with mildew blight;
But the magical bloom defieth my strength,
And flourishes on in perfume and light.
I have sprinkled the leaves with mildew blight;
But the magical bloom defieth my strength,
And flourishes on in perfume and light.
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