'Twas then we sat on ae laigh bink, To leir ilk ither lear; And tones and looks and smiles were shed, Remembered evermair. I wonder, Jeanie, aften yet, When sitting on that bink, Cheek touchin' cheek, loof locked in loof, Thy lips were on thy lesson, but O, mind ye how we hung our heads, And mind ye o' the Saturdays, (The scule then skail't at noon,) When we ran off to speel the braes,— My head rins round and round about- As ane by ane the thochts rush back O mornin' life! O mornin' luve! When hinnied hopes around our hearts O, mind ye, luve, how aft we left JEANIE MORRISON. The simmer leaves hung ower our heads, The flowers burst round our feet, And in the gloamin o' the wood The throssil whusslit sweet; The throssil whusslit in the wood, And on the knowe abune the burn Ay, ay, dear Jeanie Morrison, That was a time, a blessed time, When hearts were fresh and young, When freely gushed all feelings forth Unsyllabled-unsung! I marvel, Jeanie Morrison, As closely twined wi' earliest thochts As ye hae been to me? O, tell me gin their music fills Thine ear as it does mine! O, say gin e'er your heart grows grit I've wandered east, I've wandered west, But in my wanderings, far or near, Ye never were forgot. 149 The fount that first burst frae this heart O dear, dear Jeanie Morrison, But I could hug all wretchedness, And happy could I dee, Did I but ken your heart still dreamed O' bygane days and me! WILLIAM MOTHERWELL. Catarina to Camoens. Ο N the door you will not enter, I have gazed too long-adieu ! Hope withdraws her peradventureDeath is near me, and not you! Come, O lover! Close and cover These poor eyes, you called, I ween, "Sweetest eyes were ever seen When I heard you sing that burden Other praises disregarding I but harkened that of yours,— In heart-playing, "Blessed eyes mine eyes have been, If the sweetest HIS have seen!" CATARINA TO CAMOENS. But all changes. At this vesper, Cold the sun shines down the door; If you stood there would you whisper Yes! I think, were you beside them, Though their beauty you denied them, Call them duly, For the love's sake found therein,"Sweetest eyes were ever seen." And if you looked down upon them, Be as duly Love-transformed to beauty's sheen,"Sweetest eyes were ever seen." But, ah me! you only see me Go repeating, In your reverie serene, "Sweetest eyes were ever seen." 151 While my spirit leans and reaches Come and show it! Come, of latest love, to glean O my poet, O my prophet, When you praised their sweetness so, Did you think, in singing of it, That it might be near to go? Had you fancies From their glances, That the grave would quickly screen "Sweetest eyes were ever seen?" No reply! The fountain's warble So my heart falls, with a moan, To this dying! Death forerunneth Love, to win "Sweetest eyes were ever seen." Will you come, when I'm departed Love is over! Cry beneath the cypress green— "Sweetest eyes were ever seen!" |