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172 Left badinage aside, and unalarmed Glided from smile to sigh, from sigh to weeping ? Glide gently, imperceptibly, still onward - From tear to kiss, - a moment's thrill! - a heart- beat!

Hush! hush!

A kiss, when all is said, - what is it ? An oath that's ratified, - a sealed promise, A heart's avowal claiming confirmation, - A rose-dot on the 'i' of 'adoration,' - A secret that to month, not ear, is whispered, - Brush of a bee's wing, that makes time eternal, - Communion perfumed like the spring's wildflowers, - The heart's relieving in the heart's outbreathing, When to the lips the soul's flood rises, brimming.

Hush! hush!

A kiss, Madame, is honourable : The Queen of France, to a most favoured lord Did grant a kiss - the Queen herself !

What then ?

Buckingham suffered dumbly, - so have I, - Adored his Queen, as loyally as I, - Was sad, but faithful, - so am I. .. .