Plead with the king to have her taught
The common speech that she might tell
Of that old world where she did dwell
Long centuries agone. What thought
Her vanished race; what wars they fought;
What gods they worshipped; what their lore
Of earth and heaven, and much more
Of learning that these scholars sought.
The common speech that she might tell
Of that old world where she did dwell
Long centuries agone. What thought
Her vanished race; what wars they fought;
What gods they worshipped; what their lore
Of earth and heaven, and much more
Of learning that these scholars sought.
But still the king denied. "Who knows
Loses the bliss of Dream," quoth he,
"Nor would I cleave the mystery
Fragile and flawless that doth close
My precious one, and strangely shows
Her beauty red and white and gold
As thinnest sheath of ice might hold
The untouched beauty of a rose."
Loses the bliss of Dream," quoth he,
"Nor would I cleave the mystery
Fragile and flawless that doth close
My precious one, and strangely shows
Her beauty red and white and gold
As thinnest sheath of ice might hold
The untouched beauty of a rose."
IN MY LOVE'S GARDEN
In my love's garden
None but white flowers,
Marguerites, lilies,
Satin-leaved pansies,
Hyacinths snow-belled,
Hauntingly fragrant,
Yea, and the starlike,
Fragile narcissi.
Flowers of silver,
Flowers of sea foam,
Made of the moon-dusk,
Coolness and silence.
—But oh for roses
None but white flowers,
Marguerites, lilies,
Satin-leaved pansies,
Hyacinths snow-belled,
Hauntingly fragrant,
Yea, and the starlike,
Fragile narcissi.
Flowers of silver,
Flowers of sea foam,
Made of the moon-dusk,
Coolness and silence.
—But oh for roses
[ 42 ]
