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526
METTA V. VICTOR.
[1850-60.
And I am conquered utterly,
By the mirth which dimples now
Her rosy mouth and cheek,
And brightens over her brow.
Oh, would I dared to speak!
Oh, would I were the blossom
That waves so near her hair—
She might pluck me for her bosom
And let me perish there!
By the mirth which dimples now
Her rosy mouth and cheek,
And brightens over her brow.
Oh, would I dared to speak!
Oh, would I were the blossom
That waves so near her hair—
She might pluck me for her bosom
And let me perish there!
I am mad with too much longing—
And wild with too much thought!
Bless'd birds, around her thronging,
Sing on, I heed you not!
Oh, why was I born human.
With a man's spirit and mind,
And she, a peerless woman,
The queen of all her kind?
Those woody fibers feel not
The thrill of nerves on fire—
Those veins of nectar reel not
With love, hope, or desire!
Yet I can see them yearning
To hear her careless speech,
And I can see them turning
Her loveliest cheeks to reach!
Oh, twine thou over the castle!
In wreaths and masses twine!
I am only a stupid vassal
To lie in the grass and pine
And wish my fate were thine,
Thou happy, royal Vine!
And wild with too much thought!
Bless'd birds, around her thronging,
Sing on, I heed you not!
Oh, why was I born human.
With a man's spirit and mind,
And she, a peerless woman,
The queen of all her kind?
Those woody fibers feel not
The thrill of nerves on fire—
Those veins of nectar reel not
With love, hope, or desire!
Yet I can see them yearning
To hear her careless speech,
And I can see them turning
Her loveliest cheeks to reach!
Oh, twine thou over the castle!
In wreaths and masses twine!
I am only a stupid vassal
To lie in the grass and pine
And wish my fate were thine,
Thou happy, royal Vine!
COMPOUND INTEREST.
Ben Adam had a golden coin one day.
Which he put out at interest with a Jew ;
Year after year, awaiting him, it lay,
Until the doubled coin two pieces grew,
And these two, four — so on, till people said
"How rich Ben Adam is!" and bowed
the servile head.
Which he put out at interest with a Jew ;
Year after year, awaiting him, it lay,
Until the doubled coin two pieces grew,
And these two, four — so on, till people said
"How rich Ben Adam is!" and bowed
the servile head.
Ben Selim had a golden coin that day,
Which to a stranger, asking alms, he gave,
Who went, rejoicing, on his unknown way.
Ben Selim died, too poor to own a grave ;
But when his soul reached heaven, angels, with pride,
Showed him the wealth to which his
coin had multiplied.
Which to a stranger, asking alms, he gave,
Who went, rejoicing, on his unknown way.
Ben Selim died, too poor to own a grave ;
But when his soul reached heaven, angels, with pride,
Showed him the wealth to which his
coin had multiplied.
LOVE.[1]
Love is not taught. Queen Oene, 'tis a gift
Mysterious as life, and more divine;
The congregated glories of this cave,
With all its jeweled lamps and sparkling roof,
Could never purchase one of its small joys.
Love, in exchange, takes nothing but itself;
Power cannot claim it — fear cannot command:—
It is a tribute Queens cannot exact.
The humblest peasant singing in her hut
Is often richer than the proudest Prince:
It is the gift God left the human race
To keep them from despair, when sin and shame.
Pain, poverty and death, and madness came
Among the people. When a youthful pair
Look in each other's eyes and say, "We love!"
The common earth grows to a heavenly world.
Singing of birds, shining of summer suns,
Blooming of flowers and brightness of the moon
Have a new charm to their elated sense ;
They hear the music of the Universe
Walking, with light feet, to the harmony ;
Careless of care and disbelieving pain,
Grateful for life — and all, because they love!
Mysterious as life, and more divine;
The congregated glories of this cave,
With all its jeweled lamps and sparkling roof,
Could never purchase one of its small joys.
Love, in exchange, takes nothing but itself;
Power cannot claim it — fear cannot command:—
It is a tribute Queens cannot exact.
The humblest peasant singing in her hut
Is often richer than the proudest Prince:
It is the gift God left the human race
To keep them from despair, when sin and shame.
Pain, poverty and death, and madness came
Among the people. When a youthful pair
Look in each other's eyes and say, "We love!"
The common earth grows to a heavenly world.
Singing of birds, shining of summer suns,
Blooming of flowers and brightness of the moon
Have a new charm to their elated sense ;
They hear the music of the Universe
Walking, with light feet, to the harmony ;
Careless of care and disbelieving pain,
Grateful for life — and all, because they love!
- ↑ Extract from "Arctic Queen."
