Elect, to dreams thus beautiful?’

The vines replied, ‘And didst thou deem

No wisdom to our berries went?’

THINE EYES STILL SHINED

Thine eyes still shined for me, though far

I lonely roved the land or sea:

As I behold yon evening star,

Which yet beholds not me.

This morn I climbed the misty hill,

And roamed the pastures through;

How danced thy form before my path

Amidst the deep-eyed dew!

When the redbird spread his sable wing,

And showed his side of flame;

When the rosebud ripened to the rose,

In both I read thy name.

EROS

The sense of the world is short, –

Long and various the report, –

To love and be beloved;

Men and gods have not outlearned it;

And, how oft soe’er they’ve turned it,

’Tis not to be improved.

LOSS AND GAIN

Virtue runs before the Muse,

And defies her skill;

She is rapt, and doth refuse

To wait a painter’s will.

Star-adoring, occupied,

Virtue cannot bend her

Just to please a poet’s pride,

To parade her splendor.

The bard must be with good intent

No more his, but hers;

Must throw away his pen and paint,

Kneel with worshippers.

Then, perchance, a sunny ray

From the heaven of fire,

His lost tools may overpay,

And better his desire.

HAMATREYA

Minott, Lee, Willard, Hosmer, Meriam, Flint

Possessed the land which rendered to their toil

Hay, corn, roots, hemp, flax, apples, wool, and wood.

Each of these landlords walked amidst his farm,

Saying, ‘ ’Tis mine, my children’s, and my name’s:

How sweet the west wind sounds in my own trees!

How graceful climb those shadows on my hill!

I fancy these pure waters and the flags

Know me, as does my dog: we sympathize;

And, I affirm, my actions smack of the soil.’

Where are these men? Asleep beneath their grounds;

And strangers, fond as they, their furrows plough.

Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys

Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;

Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet

Clear of the grave.

They added ridge to valley, brook to pond,

And sighed for all that bounded their domain.

‘This suits me for a pasture; that’s my park;

We must have clay, lime, gravel, granite-ledge,

And misty lowland, where to go for peat.

The land is well, – lies fairly to the south.

’Tis good, when you have crossed the sea and back,

To find the sitfast acres where you left them.’

Ah! the hot owner sees not Death, who adds

Him to his land, a lump of mould the more.

Hear what the Earth says: –

EARTH-SONG

‘Mine and yours;

Mine, not yours.

Earth endures;

Stars abide –

Shine down in the old sea;

Old are the shores;

But where are old men?

I who have seen much,

Such have I never seen.

‘The lawyer’s deed

Ran sure,

In tail,

To them, and to their heirs

Who shall succeed,

Without fail,

Forevermore.

‘Here is the land,