Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/1052

 ROBERT BRIDGES

He thinks of his morn of life, His hale, strong years;

And braves as he may the night Of darkness and tears.

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��846 When Death to Either shall come

rHEN Death to either shall come,- I pray it be first to me, Be happy as ever at home, If so, as I wish, it be.

Possess thy heart, my own;

And sing to the child on thy knee, Or read to thyself alone

The songs that I made for thee.

847 The Linnet

I HEARD a linnet courting His lady in the spring. His mates were idly sporting, Nor stayed to hear him sing

His song of love. I fear my speech distorting His tender love.

The phrases of his pleading

Were full of young delight; And she that gave him heeding Interpreted aright

His gay, sweet notes, So sadly marred in the reading, His tender notes.

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