Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/706

 SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

On winding lakes and rivers wide, That ask no aid of sail or oar, That fear no spite of wind or tide* Naught cared this body for wind or weather When Youth and I lived in 't together.

Flowers are lovely' Love is flower-like; Friendbhip is a sheltering tree; O the joys, that came down shower-like, Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty,

Ere I was Ere I was old ? Ah, woful Ere, Which tells me, Youth 's no longer here!

Youth' for years so many and sweet, 'Tis known that thou and I were one; I'll think it but a fond conceit

It cannot be that thou art gone' Thy vesper-bell hath not yet toll'd And thou wert aye a masker bold' What strange disguise hast now put on To make believe that thou art gone ?

1 see these locks in silvery slips, This drooping gait, this alter'd size But springtide blossoms on thy lips, And tears take sunshine from thine eyes' Life is but thought: so think I will That Youth and I arc housemates still.

Dewdrops are the gems of morning, But the tears of mournful eve' Where no hope is, life 's a warning That only serves to make us grieve,

When we are old'

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