We have short time to stay as you, 160 LIFE AND THE FLOWERS. LIFE AND THE FLOWERS. I MADE a posy while the day ran by: "Here will I smell my remnant out, and tie My life within this band." But Time did beckon to the flowers, and they And withered in my hand. My hand was next to them, and then my heart. Who did so sweetly death's sad taste convey, Yet sugaring the suspicion. Farewell, dear flow'rs! sweetly your time ye spent; I follow straight, without complaints or grief; It be as short as yours. G. Herbert. TO BLOSSOMS. 161 TO BLOSSOMS. FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, Your date is not so past, What, were ye born to be, An hour or half's delight, But you are lovely leaves, where we R. Herrick. Alder Poets. II 162 THE SUNFLOWER. THE SUNFLOWER. AH! Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Where the Youth pined away with desire, Where my Sunflower wishes to go! W. Blake. LOVE-SLAIN. COME away, come away, Death, I am slain by a fair cruel maid. My part of death no one so true Not a flower, not a flower sweet, My poor corpse, where my bones shall be thrown. Lay me, O, where Sad true lover ne'er find my grave, W. Shakespeare. TAKE, O take those lips away, Hide, O hide those hills of snow, |