OF Good Night. H, sweet my love, the hour is late; Though far from thee, my lips repeat, The house is still, but o'er the gloom Somewhere beneath these gracious skies Go seek her, happy wind so free, Across this dome of silent air, On tides of floating ether bear, To where she sleeps, my whispered prayer; While life is dear, and love is best, Beneath the stars shall whisper clear, ANONYMOUS. ON THE DOORSTEP. Song. ALONG the shore, along the shore I see the wavelets meeting: But thee I see -ah, never more, For all my wild heart's beating. But from the shore, the steadfast shore, And mine I hold thee ever more, Along the shore, along the shore, Her pathway bright surrounding : DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK. THE On the Doorstep. HE conference-meeting through at last, To see the girls come tripping past 13 Not braver he that leaps the wall By level musket-flashes litten, But no; she blushed, and took my arm! I can't remember what we said, 'T was nothing worth a song or story; Yet that rude path by which we sped Seemed all transformed and in a glory. The snow was crisp beneath our feet, The moon was full, the fields were gleaming; By hood and tippet sheltered sweet, Her face with youth and health was beaming. The little hand outside her muff O sculptor, if you could but mold it! So lightly touched my jacket-cuff, To have her with me there alone, 'T was love and fear and triumph blended. At last we reached the foot-worn stone Where that delicious journey ended. The old folks, too, were almost home; We heard the voices nearer come, Yet on the doorstep still we lingered. She shook her ringlets from her hood, And with a "Thank you, Ned," dissembled, But yet I knew she understood With what a daring wish I trembled. KISS ME SOFTLY. A cloud passed kindly overhead, The moon was slyly peeping through it, Yet hid its face, as if it said, "Come, now or never! do it! do it!" My lips till then had only known The kiss of mother and of sister, But somehow, full upon her own Sweet, rosy, darling mouth — I kissed her! Perhaps 't was boyish love, yet still, O listless woman, weary lover! To feel once more that fresh, wild thrill 15 Kiss Me Softly. Da me basia. - CATULLUS. KISS me softly and speak to me low, Malice has ever a vigilant ear ; What if Malice were lurking near? Kiss me softly and speak to me low. Kiss me softly and speak to me low, Kiss me softly and speak to me low. Kiss me softly and speak to me low: Trust me, darling, the time is near When lovers may love with never a fear, – Kiss me softly and speak to me low. JOHN GODFREY SAXE. To Celia. RINK to me only with thine eyes, DRIN And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss within the cup, And I'll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise, But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I sent thee late a rosy wreath, It could not withered be; But thou thereon didst only breathe, And sent'st it back to me, Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee. BEN JONSON. ΤΕ Tell her, oh, tell her. ELL her, oh, tell her, the lute she left lying Beneath the green arbor, is still lying there; And breezes, like lovers, around it are sighing, But not a soft whisper replies to their prayer. Tell her, oh, tell her, the tree that, in going, |