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 ::::A FAREWELL

IFT not your head before you turn away! Let not your eyes grow tender, as they grew Long since — long since! Oh! it is hard to say How long, so cruel-fast that hour flew! Go, then, and take away with you the light Laughter of all the leaves, the pleasant stir Of all the rain falling on all the flowers; You cannot take away with you the night! That you must leave — Love's Holy Sepulchre; Whereat forlorn hope weeps thro' the dead hours.

Go, then, and take with you the tender mist, That all these days has floated round the trees, And gathered in the glens and lightly kissed The willows quivering in the scarce- felt breeze; Take it with you and with it take along The vague sweet thoughts that into it I've poured, Glimpses and dreams, such as the gods afford, So rarely, that to earth they scarce belong. Take them with you! They are far better gone Than mirrored in my heart, as on a stone.

Go quickly, with no word, if you must go; Nay, it is only pity in your eyes; Only sweet pity — and too well I know How soon that little mist will leave its skies!