Yet what no chance could then reveal, R. M. (Milnes) Lord Houghton CXLIV A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S O, Galuppi, Baldassaro, this is very sad to find! I can hardly misconceive you; it would prove me deaf and blind; But although I take your meaning, 'tis with such a heavy mind! Here you come with your old music, and here's all the good it brings. What, they lived once thus at Venice where the merchants were the kings, Where St. Mark's is, where the Doges used to wed the sea with rings? Ay, because the sea's the street there; and 'tis arch'd by . . . what you call Shylock's bridge with houses on it, where they kept the carnival : I was never out of England-it's as if I saw it all! Did young people take their pleasure when the sea was warm in May? Balls and masks begun at midnight, burning ever to mid-day When they made up fresh adventures for the morrow, do you say? Was a lady such a lady, cheeks so round and lips so red,- On her neck the small face buoyant, like a bell-flower on its bed, O'er the breast's superb abundance where a man might base his head? Well, (and it was graceful of them) they'd break talk off and afford -She, to bite her mask's black velvet, he, to finger on his sword, While you sat and play'd Toccatas, stately at the clavichord? What? Those lesser thirds so plaintive, sixths diminish'd, sigh on sigh, Told them something? Those suspensions, those solutions- Must we die?' Those commiserating sevenths- Life might last! we can but try! 'Were you happy?'-'Yes.'-' And are you still as happy? Yes. And you ?' 'Then, more kisses !'-' Did I stop them, when a million seem'd so few?' Hark! the dominant's persistence, till it must be answer'd to! So an octave struck the answer. O, they praised you, I dare say! 'Brave Galuppi! that was music! good alike at grave and gay! I can always leave off talking, when I hear a master play.' Then they left you for their pleasure: till in due time, one by one, Some with lives that came to nothing, some with deeds as well undone, Death came tacitly and took them where they never see the sun. But when I sit down to reason, think to take my stand nor swerve, While I triumph o'er a secret wrung from nature's close reserve, In you come with your cold music, till I creep through every nerve. Yes, you, like a ghostly cricket, creaking where a house was burn'd 'Dust and ashes, dead and done with, Venice spent what Venice earn'd! The soul, doubtless, is immortal-where a soul can be discern'd. 'Yours for instance, you know physics, something of geology, Mathematics are your pastime; souls shall rise in their degree; Butterflies may dread extinction,-you'll not die, it cannot be ! 'As for Venice and its people, merely born to bloom and drop, Here on earth they bore their fruitage, mirth and folly were the crop : What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop? 'Dust and ashes!' So you creak it, and I want the heart to scold. Dear dead women, with such hair, too-what's become of all the gold Used to hang and brush their bosoms? I feel chilly and grown old. R. Browning CXLV IF SHE BUT KNEW If she but knew that I am weeping That love and sorrow grow with keeping My heart that breaking will adore her, If she might hear me once implore her, If she but knew that it would save me Saying she pitied me, forgave me, If she were told that I was dying, Could she content herself with sighing? Would she not come ? A. O'Shaughnessy CXLVI SONG Has summer come without the rose, Is the blue changed above thee, O world! or am I blind? Will you change every flower that grows, Where she who said, I love thee, The skies seem'd true above thee, The rose true on the tree; The bird seem'd true the summer through, But all proved false to me. World! is there one good thing in you, Since lips that sang, I love thee, I think the sun's kiss will scarce fall Be false or fair above me, Come back with any face, Here, where she used to love me, A. O'Shaughnessy CXLVII DEPARTURE It was not like your great and gracious ways! Do you, that have nought other to lament, Never, my Love, repent Of how, that July afternoon, You went, With sudden, unintelligible phrase, And frighten'd eye, Upon your journey of so many days Without a single kiss, or a good-bye? I knew, indeed, that you were parting soon; And so we sate, within the low sun's rays, You whispering to me, for your voice was weak, Your harrowing praise. Well, it was well, |