Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/991

 GEORGE MEREDITH

Stretch 7 d about his feet, labour done, 'twas as you see

Red pomegranates tumble and burst hard rind. So began contention to give delight and be Excellent in things aim'd to make life kind. God' of whom music And song and blood are pure, The day is never darken'd That had thee here obscure.

You with shelly horns, rams' and, promontory goats,

You whose browsing beards dip in coldest dew!

Bulls, that walk the pastures in kingly-flashing coats'

Laurel, ivy, vine, wieath'd for feasts not few' You that build the shade-roof, and you that court the rays,

You that leap besprinkling the rock stream-rent: He has been our fellow, the morning of our days; Us he chose for housemates, and this way went. God 1 of whom music And song and blood are pure, The day is never darkened That had thee here obscure.

Love's Grave

MARK where the pressing wind shoots javelin-like, Its skeleton shadow on the broad-back'd wave' Here is a fitting spot to dig Love's grave , Here where the ponderous breakers plunge and strike, And dart their hissing tongues high up the sand: In hearing of the ocean, and in sight Of those ribb'd wind-streaks running into white. If I the death of Love had deeply plann'd,

�� �