Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/908

 ROBERT BROWNING

734 Parting at Morning

M3UND the cape of a sudden came the sea,

And the sun look'd over the mountain's rim: And straight was a path of gold for him, And the need of a world of men for me.

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��735 The Lost Mistress

's over, then: does truth sound bitter As one at first believes ? Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter About your cottage eaves'

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��And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,

I noticed that, to-day; One day more bursts them open fully

You know the red turns gray.

To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?"

May I take your hand in mine? Merc friends are we, well, friends the merest

Keep much that I resign,

For each glance of the eye so bright and black.

Though I keep with heart's endeavour, Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,

Though it stay in my soul for ever'

Yet I will but say what mere friends say,

Or only a thought stronger; I will hold your hand but as long as all may,

Or so very little longer!

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