Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/719

 CHARLES LAMB

I loved a Love once, fairest among women: Closed are her doors on me, I must not see her All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have a friend, a kinder friend has no man: Like an ingrate, I left my friend abruptly; Left him, to muse on the old familiar faces.

Ghost-like I paced round the haunts of my childhood, Earth seem'd a desert I was bound to traverse, Seeking to find the old familiar faces.

Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother, Why wert not thou born in my father's dwelling? So might we talk of the old familiar faces

How some they have died, and some they have left me, And some are taken from me, all are departed All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

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��$88 Hester

rHEN maidens such as Hester die Their place ^e may not well supply, Though ye among a thousand try With vain endeavour.

A month or more hath she been dead, Yet cannot I by force be led To think upon the wormy bed And her together.

A springy motion in her gait, A rising step, did indicate Of pride and joy no common rate, That flubh'd her spirit:

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