VI。
  Elseitloseswhatitlivedfor,Andeternallymustloseit;
  Betterendsmaybeinprospect,Deeperblisses(ifyouchooseit),Butthislife'sendandthislove-blissHavebeenlosthere。DoubtyouwhetherThisshefeltas,lookingatme,Mineandhersoulsrushedtogether?
  VII。
  Oh,observe!Ofcourse,nextmoment,Theworld'shonours,inderision,Trampledoutthelightforever:
  Neverfearbutthere'sprovisionOfthedevil'stoquenchknowledgeLestwewalktheearthinrapture!——
  MakingthosewhocatchGod'ssecretJustsomuchmoreprizetheircapture!
  VIII。
  SuchamI:thesecret'sminenow!
  Shehaslostme,Ihavegainedher;
  Hersoul'smine:andthus,grownperfect,Ishallpassmylife'sremainder。
  LifewilljustholdouttheprovingBothourpowers,aloneandblended:
  Andthen,comenextlifequickly!
  Thisworld'susewillhavebeenended。
  THELOSTMISTRESS。
  I。
  All'sover,then:doestruthsoundbitterAsoneatfirstbelieves?
  Hark,'tisthesparrows'good-nighttwitterAboutyourcottageeaves!
  II。
  Andtheleaf-budsonthevinearewoolly,Inoticedthat,to-day;
  Onedaymoreburststhemopenfully——Youknowtheredturnsgrey。
  III。
  To-morrowwemeetthesamethen,dearest?
  MayItakeyourhandinmine?
  Merefriendsarewe,——well,friendsthemerestKeepmuchthatIresign:
  IV。
  Foreachglanceoftheeyesobrightandblack,ThoughIkeepwithheart'sendeavour,——
  Yourvoice,whenyouwishthesnowdropsback,Thoughitstayinmysoulforever!——
  V。
  YetIwillbutsaywhatmerefriendssay,Oronlyathoughtstronger;
  Iwillholdyourhandbutaslongasallmay,Orsoverylittlelonger!
  EARTH'SIMMORTALITIES。
  FAME。
  See,astheprettiestgraveswilldointime,Ourpoet'swantsthefreshnessofitsprime;
  Spiteofthesexton'sbrowsinghorse,thesodsHavestruggledthroughitsbindingosierrods;
  Headstoneandhalf-sunkfootstoneleanawry,Wantingthebrick-workpromisedby-and-by;
  Howtheminutegreylichens,plateo'erplate,Havesofteneddownthecrisp-cutnameanddate!
  LOVE。
  So,theyear'sdonewith(_Lovemeforever!_)
  AllMarchbegunwith,April'sendeavour;
  May-wreathsthatboundmeJuneneedsmustsever;
  Nowsnowsfallroundme,QuenchingJune'sfever——
  (_Lovemeforever!_)
  MEETINGATNIGHT。
  I。
  Thegreyseaandthelongblackland;
  Andtheyellowhalf-moonlargeandlow;
  AndthestartledlittlewavesthatleapInfieryringletsfromtheirsleep,AsIgainthecovewithpushingprow,Andquenchitsspeedi'theslushysand。
  II。
  Thenamileofwarmsea-scentedbeach;
  Threefieldstocrosstillafarmappears;
  Atapatthepane,thequicksharpscratchAndbluespurtofalightedmatch,Andavoicelessloud,thro'itsjoysandfears,Thanthetwoheartsbeatingeachtoeach!
  PARTINGATMORNING。
  Roundthecapeofasuddencamethesea,Andthesunlookedoverthemountain'srim:
  Andstraightwasapathofgoldforhim,Andtheneedofaworldofmenforme。
  SONG。
  I。
  Naybutyou,whodonotloveher,Isshenotpuregold,mymistress?
  Holdsearthaught——speaktruth——aboveher?
  Aughtlikethistress,see,andthistress,Andthislastfairesttressofall,Sofair,see,ereIletitfall?
  II。
  Because,youspendyourlivesinpraising;
  Topraise,yousearchthewideworldover:
  Thenwhynotwitness,calmlygazing,Ifearthholdsaught——speaktruth——aboveher?
  Abovethistress,andthis,ItouchButcannotpraise,Ilovesomuch!
  AWOMAN'SLASTWORD。
  I。
  Let'scontendnomore,Love,Strivenorweep:
  Allbeasbefore,Love,——Onlysleep!
  II。
  Whatsowildaswordsare?
  IandthouIndebate,asbirdsare,Hawkonbough!
  III。
  SeethecreaturestalkingWhilewespeak!
  Hushandhidethetalking,Cheekoncheek!
  IV。
  Whatsofalseastruthis,Falsetothee?
  Wheretheserpent'stoothisShunthetree——
  V。
  WheretheapplereddensNeverpry——
  LestweloseourEdens,EveandI。
  VI。
  BeagodandholdmeWithacharm!
  BeamanandfoldmeWiththinearm!
  VII。
  Teachme,onlyteach,LoveAsIoughtIwillspeakthyspeech,Love,Thinkthythought——
  VIII。
  Meet,ifthourequireit,Bothdemands,LayingfleshandspiritInthyhands。
  IX。
  Thatshallbeto-morrowNotto-night:
  ImustburysorrowOutofsight:
  X——
  Mustalittleweep,Love,(Foolishme!)
  Andsofallasleep,Love,Lovedbythee。
  EVELYNHOPE。
  I。
  BeautifulEvelynHopeisdead!
  Sitandwatchbyhersideanhour。
  Thatisherbook-shelf,thisherbed;
  Shepluckedthatpieceofgeranium-flower,Beginningtodietoo,intheglass;
  Littlehasyetbeenchanged,Ithink:
  Theshuttersareshut,nolightmaypassSavetwolongraysthro'thehinge'schink。
  II。
  Sixteenyearsold,whenshedied!
  Perhapsshehadscarcelyheardmyname;
  Itwasnothertimetolove;beside,Herlifehadmanyahopeandaim,Dutiesenoughandlittlecares,Andnowwasquiet,nowastir,TillGod'shandbeckonedunawares,——
  Andthesweetwhitebrowisallofher。
  III。
  Isittoolatethen,EvelynHope?
  What,yoursoulwaspureandtrue,Thegoodstarsmetinyourhoroscope,Madeyouofspirit,fireanddew——
  And,justbecauseIwasthriceasoldAndourpathsintheworlddivergedsowide,Eachwasnoughttoeach,mustIbetold?
  Wewerefellowmortals,noughtbeside?
  IV。
  No,indeed!forGodaboveIsgreattogrant,asmightytomake,Andcreatesthelovetorewardthelove:
  Iclaimyoustill,formyownlove'ssake!
  Delayeditmaybeformorelivesyet,ThroughworldsIshalltraverse,notafew:
  Muchistolearn,muchtoforgetErethetimebecomefortakingyou。
  V。
  Butthetimewillcome,——atlastitwill,When,EvelynHope,whatmeant(Ishallsay)
  Inthelowerearth,intheyearslongstill,Thatbodyandsoulsopureandgay?
  Whyyourhairwasamber,Ishalldivine,Andyourmouthofyourowngeranium'sred——
  Andwhatyouwoulddowithme,infine,Inthenewlifecomeintheoldone'sstead。
  VI。
  Ihavelived(Ishallsay)somuchsincethen,Givenupmyselfsomanytimes,Gainedmethegainsofvariousmen,Ransackedtheages,spoiledtheclimes;
  Yetonething,one,inmysoul'sfullscope,EitherImissedoritselfmissedme:
  AndIwantandfindyou,EvelynHope!
  Whatistheissue?letussee!
  VII。
  Ilovedyou,Evelyn,allthewhile。
  Myheartseemedfullasitcouldhold?
  Therewasplaceandtospareforthefrankyoungsmile,Andtheredyoungmouth,andthehair'syounggold。
  So,hush,——Iwillgiveyouthisleaftokeep:
  See,Ishutitinsidethesweetcoldhand!
  There,thatisoursecret:gotosleep!
  Youwillwake,andremember,andunderstand。
  LOVEAMONGTHERUINS。
  I。
  Wherethequiet-colouredendofeveningsmiles,MilesandmilesOnthesolitarypastureswhereoursheepHalf-asleepTinklehomewardthro'thetwilight,strayorstopAstheycrop——
  Wasthesiteonceofacitygreatandgay,(Sotheysay)
  Ofourcountry'sverycapital,itsprinceAgessinceHeldhiscourtin,gatheredcouncils,wieldingfarPeaceorwar。
  II。
  Now,——thecountrydoesnotevenboastatree,Asyousee,Todistinguishslopesofverdure,certainrillsFromthehillsIntersectandgiveanameto,(elsetheyrunIntoone)
  WherethedomedanddaringpalaceshotitsspiresUplikefiresO'erthehundred-gatedcircuitofawallBoundingall,Madeofmarble,menmightmarchonnorbepressed,Twelveabreast。
  III。
  Andsuchplentyandperfection,see,ofgrassNeverwas!
  Suchacarpetas,thissummer-time,o'erspreadsAndembedsEveryvestigeofthecity,guessedalone,Stockorstone——
  WhereamultitudeofmenbreathedjoyandwoeLongago;
  Lustofgloryprickedtheirheartsup,dreadofshameStruckthemtame;
  Andthatgloryandthatshamealike,thegoldBoughtandsold。
  IV。
  Now,——thesinglelittleturretthatremainsOntheplains,Bythecaperoverrooted,bythegourdOverscored,Whilethepatchinghouseleek'sheadofblossomwinksThroughthechinks——
  MarksthebasementwhenceatowerinancienttimeSprangsublime,Andaburningring,allround,thechariotstracedAstheyraced,AndthemonarchandhisminionsandhisdamesViewedthegames。
  V。
  AndIknow,whilethusthequiet-colouredeveSmilestoleaveTotheirfolding,allourmany-tinklingfleeceInsuchpeace,AndtheslopesandrillsinundistinguishedgreyMeltaway——
  ThatagirlwitheagereyesandyellowhairWaitsmethereIntheturretwhencethecharioteerscaughtsoulForthegoal,Whenthekinglooked,whereshelooksnow,breathless,dumbTillIcome。
  VI。
  Buthelookeduponthecity,everyside,Farandwide,Allthemountainstoppedwithtemples,alltheglades'
  Colonnades,Allthecauseys,bridges,aqueducts,——andthen,Allthemen!
  WhenIdocome,shewillspeaknot,shewillstand,EitherhandOnmyshoulder,givehereyesthefirstembraceOfmyface,Erewerush,ereweextinguishsightandspeechEachoneach。
  VII。
  InoneyeartheysentamillionfightersforthSouthandNorth,AndtheybuilttheirgodsabrazenpillarhighAsthesky,Yetreservedathousandchariotsinfullforce——
  Gold,ofcourse。
  Ohheart!ohbloodthatfreezes,bloodthatburns!
  Earth'sreturnsForwholecenturiesoffolly,noiseandsin!
  Shutthemin,Withtheirtriumphsandtheirgloriesandtherest!
  Loveisbest。
  ALOVERS'QUARREL。
  I。
  Oh,whatadawnofday!
  HowtheMarchsunfeelslikeMay!
  AllisblueagainAfterlastnight'srain,AndtheSouthdriesthehawthorn-spray。
  Only,myLove'saway!
  I'dasliefthattheblueweregrey,II。
  Runnels,whichrilletsswell,Mustbedancingdownthedell,WithafoamingheadOntheberylbedPavensmoothasahermit'scell;
  Eachwithataletotell,CouldmyLovebutattendaswell。
  III。
  Dearest,threemonthsago!
  Whenwelivedblocked-upwithsnow,——
  WhenthewindwouldedgeInandinhiswedge,In,asfarasthepointcouldgo——
  Nottoouringle,though,Wherewelovedeachtheotherso!
  IV。
  Laughswithsolittlecause!
  Wedevisedgamesoutofstraws。
  WewouldtryandtraceOneanother'sfaceIntheash,asanartistdraws;
  Freeoneachother'sflaws,Howwechatteredliketwochurchdaws!
  V。
  What'sinthe`Times''?——ascoldAttheEmperordeepandcold;
  HehastakenabrideTohisgruesomeside,That'sasfairashimselfisbold:
  Theretheysitermine-stoled,Andshepowdersherhairwithgold。
  VI。
  FancythePampas'sheen!
  MilesandmilesofgoldandgreenWherethesunflowersblowInasolidglow,And——tobreaknowandthenthescreen——
  Blackneckandeyeballskeen,Upawildhorseleapsbetween!
  VII。
  Try,willourtableturn?
  Layyourhandstherelight,andyearnTilltheyearningslipsThro'thefinger-tipsInafirewhichafewdiscern,Andaveryfewfeelburn,Andtherest,theymayliveandlearn!
  VIII。
  Thenwewouldupandpace,Forachange,abouttheplace,Eachwitharmo'erneck:
  'Tisourquarter-deck,Weareseameninwoefulcase。
  Helpintheocean-space!
  Or,ifnohelp,we'llembrace。
  IX。
  See,howshelooksnow,dressedInasledging-capandvest!
  'Tisahugefurcloak——
  Likeareindeer'syokeFallsthelappetalongthebreast:
  Sleevesforherarmstorest,Ortohang,asmyLovelikesbest。
  X。
  TeachmetoflirtafanAstheSpanishladiescan,OrItintyourlipWithaburntstick'stipAndyouturnintosuchaman!
  JustthetwospotsthatspanHalfthebilloftheyoungmaleswan。
  XI。
  Dearest,threemonthsagoWhenthemesmerizerSnowWithhishand'sfirstsweepPuttheearthtosleep:
  'TwasatimewhentheheartcouldshowAll——howwasearthtoknow,'Neaththemutehand'sto-and-fro?
  XII。
  Dearest,threemonthsagoWhenwelovedeachotherso,LivedandlovedthesameTillaneveningcameWhenashaftfromthedevil'sbowPiercedtoouringle-glow,Andthefriendswerefriendandfoe!
  XIII。
  Notfromtheheartbeneath——
  'Twasabubblebornofbreath,Neithersneernorvaunt,Norreproachnortaunt。
  Seeaword,howitsevereth!
  Oh,poweroflifeanddeathInthetongue,asthePreachersaith!
  XIV。
  Woman,andwillyoucastForaword,quiteoffatlastMe,yourown,yourYou,——
  Since,astruthistrue,IwasYouallthehappypast——
  MedoyouleaveaghastWiththememoriesWeamassed?
  XV。
  Love,ifyouknewthelightThatyoursoulcastsinmysight,HowIlooktoyouForthepureandtrueAndthebeauteousandtheright,——
  Bearwithamoment'sspiteWhenameremotethreatsthewhite!
  XVI。
  Whatofahastyword?
  IsthefleshlyheartnotstirredByaworm'spin-prickWhereitsrootsarequick?
  Seetheeye,byafly'sfootblurred——
  Ear,whenastrawisheardScratchthebrain'scoatofcurd!
  XVII。
  FoulbetheworldorfairMoreorless,howcanIcare?
  'TistheworldthesameFormypraiseorblame,Andenduranceiseasythere。
  Wrongintheonethingrare——
  Oh,itishardtobear!
  XVIII。
  Here'sthespringbackorclose,Whenthealmond-blossomblows:
  WeshallhavethewordInaminorthirdThereisnonebutthecuckooknows:
  Heapsoftheguelder-rose!
  Imustbearwithit,Isuppose。
  XIX。
  CouldbutNovembercome,WerethenoisybirdsstruckdumbAtthewarningslashOfhisdriver's-lash——
  IwouldlaughlikethevaliantThumbFacingthecastleglumAndthegiant'sfee-faw-fum!
  XX。
  Then,weretheworldwellstrippedOfthegearwhereinequippedWecanstandapart,HeartdispensewithheartInthesun,withtheflowersunnipped,——
  Oh,theworld'shangingsripped,Wewerebothinabare-walledcrypt!
  XXI。
  Eachinthecryptwouldcry``Butonefreezeshere!andwhy?
  ``Whenaheart,aschill,``Atmyownwouldthrill``Backtolife,anditsfiresout-fly?
  ``Heart,shallweliveordie?
  ``Therest……settleby-and-by!''
  XXII。
  So,she'deffacethescore,Andforgivemeasbefore。
  Itistwelveo'clock:
  IshallhearherknockIntheworstofastorm'suproar,Ishallpullherthroughthedoor,Ishallhaveherforevermore!
  UPATAVILLA——DOWNINTHECITY。
  (ASDISTINGUISHEDBYANITALIANPERSONOFQUALITY。)
  I。
  HadIbutplentyofmoney,moneyenoughandtospare,Thehouseforme,nodoubt,wereahouseinthecity-square;
  Ah,suchalife,suchalife,asoneleadsatthewindowthere!
  II。
  Somethingtosee,byBacchus,somethingtohear,atleast!
  There,thewholedaylong,one'slifeisaperfectfeast;
  Whileupatavillaonelives,Imaintainit,nomorethanabeast。
  III。
  Wellnow,lookatourvilla!stucklikethehornofabullJustonamountain-edgeasbareasthecreature'sskull,Saveamereshagofabushwithhardlyaleaftopull!——
  Iscratchmyown,sometimes,toseeifthehair'sturnedwool。
  IV。
  Butthecity,ohthecity——thesquarewiththehouses!Why?
  Theyarestone-faced,whiteasacurd,there'ssomethingtotaketheeye!
  Housesinfourstraightlines,notasinglefrontawry;
  Youwatchwhocrossesandgossips,whosaunters,whohurriesby;
  Greenblinds,asamatterofcourse,todrawwhenthesungetshigh;
  Andtheshopswithfancifulsignswhicharepaintedproperly。
  V。
  Whatofavilla?ThoughwinterbeoverinMarchbyrights,'TisMayperhapserethesnowshallhavewitheredwellofftheheights:
  You'vethebrownploughedlandbefore,wheretheoxensteamandwheeze,Andthehillsover-smokedbehindbythefaintgreyolive-trees。
  VI。
  IsitbetterinMay,Iaskyou?You'vesummerallatonce;
  InadayheleapscompletewithafewstrongAprilsuns。
  'Midthesharpshortemeraldwheat,scarcerisenthreefingerswell,Thewildtulip,atendofitstube,blowsoutitsgreatredbellLikeathinclearbubbleofblood,forthechildrentopickandsell。
  VII。
  Isiteverhotinthesquare?There'safountaintospoutandsplash!
  Intheshadeitsingsandsprings;intheshinesuchfoam-bowsflashOnthehorseswithcurlingfish-tails,thatpranceandpaddleandpashRoundtheladyatopinherconch——fiftygazersdonotabash,Thoughallthatshewearsissomeweedsroundherwaistinasortofsash。
  VIII。
  Alltheyearatthevilla,nothingtoseethoughyoulinger,Exceptyoncypressthatpointslikeadeath'sleanliftedforefinger。
  Somethinkfirefliespretty,whentheymixi'thecornandmingle,Orthridthestinkinghemptillthestalksofitseema-tingle。
  LateAugustorearlySeptember,thestunningcicalaisshrill,Andthebeeskeeptheirtiresomewhineroundtheresinousfirsonthehill。
  Enoughoftheseasons,——Ispareyouthemonthsofthefeverandchill。
  IX。
  Ereyouopenyoureyesinthecity,theblessedchurch-bellsbegin:
  Nosoonerthebellsleaveoffthanthediligencerattlesin:
  Yougetthepickofthenews,anditcostsyouneverapin。
  By-and-bythere'sthetravellingdoctorgivespills,letsblood,drawsteeth;
  OrthePulcinello-trumpetbreaksupthemarketbeneath。
  Atthepost-officesuchascene-picture——thenewplay,pipinghot!
  Andanoticehow,onlythismorning,threeliberalthieveswereshot。
  Aboveit,beholdtheArchbishop'smostfatherlyofrebukes,Andbeneath,withhiscrownandhislion,somelittlenewlawoftheDuke's!
  Orasonnetwithflowerymarge,totheReverendDonSo-and-soWhoisDante,Boccaccio,Petrarca,SaintJeromeandCicero,``Andmoreover,''(thesonnetgoesrhyming,)``theskirtsofSaintPaulhasreached,``HavingpreachedusthosesixLent-lecturesmoreunctuousthaneverhepreached。''
  Noonstrikes,——heresweepstheprocession!ourLadybornesmilingandsmartWithapinkgauzegownallspangles,andsevenswordsstuckinherheart!
  _Bang-whang-whang_goesthedrum,_tootle-to-tootle_thefife;
  Nokeepingone'shaunchesstill:it'sthegreatestpleasureinlife。
  X。
  Butblessyou,it'sdear——it'sdear!fowls,wine,atdoubletherate。
  Theyhaveclappedanewtaxuponsalt,andwhatoilpayspassingthegateIt'sahorrortothinkof。Andso,thevillaforme,notthecity!
  Beggarscanscarcelybechoosers:butstill——ah,thepity,thepity!
  Look,twoandtwogothepriests,thenthemonkswithcowlsandsandals,Andthepenitentsdressedinwhiteshirts,a-holdingtheyellowcandles;
  One'hecarriesaflagupstraight,andanotheracrosswithhandles,AndtheDuke'sguardbringsuptherear,forthebetterpreventionofscandals:
  _Bang-whang-whang_goesthedrum,_tootle-te-tootle_thefife。
  Oh,adayinthecity-square,thereisnosuchpleasureinlife!
  ATOCCATAOFGALUPPI'S。
  [GaluppiwasafamousItaliancomposeroftheeighteenthcentury。HewasinLondonfrom1741to1744。]
  I。
  OhGaluppi,Baldassaro,thisisverysadtofind!
  Icanhardlymisconceiveyou;itwouldprovemedeafandblind;
  ButalthoughItakeyourmeaning,'tiswithsuchaheavymind!
  II。
  Hereyoucomewithallyourmusic,andhere'sallthegooditbrings。
  What,theylivedoncethusatVenicewherethemerchantswerethekings,WhereSaintMark'sis,wheretheDogesusedtowedtheseawithrings?
  III。
  Ay,becausethesea'sthestreetthere;and'tisarchedby……whatyoucall……Shylock'sbridgewithhousesonit,wheretheykeptthecarnival:
  IwasneveroutofEngland——it'sasifIsawitall。
  IV。
  DidyoungpeopletaketheirpleasurewhentheseawaswarminMay?
  Ballsandmasksbegunatmidnight,burningevertomid-day,Whentheymadeupfreshadventuresforthemorrow,doyousay?
  V。
  Wasaladysuchalady,cheekssoroundandlipssored,——
  Onherneckthesmallfacebuoyant,likeabell-floweronitsbed,O'erthebreast'ssuperbabundancewhereamanmightbasehishead?
  VI。
  Well,anditwasgracefulofthem——they'dbreaktalkoffandafford——She,tobitehermask'sblackvelvet——he,tofingeronhissword,WhileyousatandplayedToccatas,statelyattheclavichord?
  VII。
  What?Thoselesserthirdssoplaintive,sixthsdiminished,sighonsigh,Toldthemsomething?Thosesuspensions,thosesolutions——``Mustwedie?''
  Thosecommiseratingsevenths——``Lifemightlast!wecanbuttry!''
  VIII。
  ``Wereyouhappy?''——``Yes。''——``Andareyoustillashappy?''——``Yes。Andyou?''——
  ``Then,morekisses!''——``Did_I_stopthem,whenamillionseemedsofew?''
  Hark,thedominant'spersistencetillitmustbeansweredto!
  IX。
  So,anoctavestrucktheanswer。Oh,theypraisedyou,Idaresay!
  ``BraveGaluppi!thatwasmusic!goodalikeatgraveandgay!
  ``IcanalwaysleaveofftalkingwhenIhearamasterplay!''
  X。
  Thentheyleftyoufortheirpleasure:tillinduetime,onebyone,Somewithlivesthatcametonothing,somewithdeedsaswellundone,Deathsteppedtacitlyandtookthemwheretheyneverseethesun。
  XI。
  ButwhenIsitdowntoreason,thinktotakemystandnorswerve,WhileItriumpho'erasecretwrungfromnature'sclosereserve,InyoucomewithyourcoldmusictillIcreepthro'everynerve。
  XII。
  Yes,you,likeaghostlycricket,creakingwhereahousewasburned:
  ``Dustandashes,deadanddonewith,VenicespentwhatVeniceearned。
  ``Thesoul,doubtless,isimmortal——whereasoulcanbediscerned。
  XIII。
  ``Yoursforinstance:youknowphysics,somethingofgeology,``Mathematicsareyourpastime;soulsshallriseintheirdegree;
  ``Butterfliesmaydreadextinction,——you'llnotdie,itcannotbe!
  XIV。
  ``AsforVeniceandherpeople,merelyborntobloomanddrop,``Hereonearththeyboretheirfruitage,mirthandfollywerethecrop:
  ``Whatofsoulwasleft,Iwonder,whenthekissinghadtostop?
  XV。
  ``Dustandashes!''Soyoucreakit,andIwantthehearttoscold。
  Deardeadwomen,withsuchhair,too——what'sbecomeofallthegoldUsedtohangandbrushtheirbosoms?Ifeelchillyandgrownold。
  1。Anoverture——atouchpiece。
  OLDPICTURESINFLORENCE。
  I。
  ThemornwhenfirstitthundersinMarch,Theeelinthepondgivesaleap,theysay:
  AsIleanedandlookedoverthealoedarchOfthevilla-gatethiswarmMarchday,Noflashsnapped,nodumbthunderrolledInthevalleybeneathwhere,whiteandwideAndwashedbythemorningwater-gold,Florencelayoutonthemountain-side。
  II。
  RiverandbridgeandstreetandsquareLaymine,asmuchatmybeckandcall,Throughthelivetranslucentbathofair,Asthesightsinamagiccrystalball。
  AndofallIsawandofallIpraised,ThemosttopraiseandthebesttoseeWasthestartlingbell-towerGiottoraised:
  Butwhydiditmorethanstartleme?
  III。
  Giotto,how,withthatsoulofyours,Couldyouplaymefalsewholovedyouso?
  SomeslightsifacertainheartenduresYetitfeels,Iwouldhaveyourfellowsknow!
  I'faith,IperceivenotwhyIshouldcareTobreakasilencethatsuitsthembest,ButthethinggrowssomewhathardtobearWhenIfindaGiottojointherest。