3. Weak Truth a-leaning on her crutch, Wan, wasted Truth in her utmost need, Thy kingly intellect shall feed, Until she be an athlete bold, And weary with a finger's touch Those writhed limbs of lightning speed; Like that strange angel which of old, Until the breaking of the light, Wrestled with wandering Israel, Past Yabbok brook the livelong night, And heaven's mazed signs stood still In the dim tract of Penuel. MADELINE. 1. THOU art not steep'd in golden languors, Thro' light and shadow thou dost range, 2. Smiling, frowning, evermore, Frowns perfect-sweet along the brow Like little clouds sun-fringed, are thine, Thy smile and frown are not aloof From one another, Each to each is dearest brother; Hues of the silken sheeny woof 3. A subtle, sudden flame, By veering passion fann'd, About thee breaks and dances; When I would kiss thy hand, The flush of anger'd shame O'erflows thy calmer glances, And o'er black brows drops down A sudden-curved frown: But when I turn away, Thou, willing me to stay, Wooest not, nor vainly wranglest; Then in madness and in bliss, SONG. THE OWL. 1. WHEN cats run home and light is come, And the whirring sail goes round, And the whirring sail goes round; When 2. merry milkmaids click the latch, And rarely smells the new-mown hay, And the cock hath sung beneath the thatch Twice or thrice his roundelay, Twice or thrice his roundelay; Alone and warming his five wits, c SECOND SONG. TO THE SAME. 1. THY tuwhits are lull'd I wot, 2. I would mock thy chaunt anew; Not a whit of thy tuwhoo, Thee to woo to thy tuwhit, With a lengthen'd loud halloo, Tuwhoo, tuwhit, tuwhit, tuwhoo-o-o. |