Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/312

294 Two I choose to know the secret Thee, and yonder wordless flute; Dragons watch me, tender Lily, And thou must be mute. There s a maiden, and her name is Hist! was that a rose-leaf fell? See, the rose is listening, Lily, And the rose may tell. Lily-browed and lily-hearted, She is very dear to me; Lovely? yes, if being lovely Is resembling thee. Six to half a score of summers Make the sweetest of the " teens " Not too young to guess, dear Lily, What a lover means. Laughing girl and thoughtful woman, I am puzzled how to woo Shall I praise, or pique her, Lily? Tell me what to do.

"Silly lover, if thy Lily Like her sister lilies be, Thou must woo, if thou wouldst wear her, With a simple plea.

"Love s the lover s only magic, Truth the very subtlest art; Love that feigns, and lips that flatter, Win no modest heart.