A WOMAN'S SHORTCOMINGS.

I.

HE has laughed as softly as if she sighed !

SHE

She has counted six and over,

Of a purse well filled, and a heart well tried-
Oh, each a worthy lover!

They "give her time;" for her soul must slip
Where the world has set the grooving:
She will lie to none with her fair red lip-
But love seeks truer loving.

II.

She trembles her fan in a sweetness dumb,
As her thoughts were beyond recalling;
With a glance for one, and a glance for some,
From her eyelids rising and falling.
-Speaks common words with a blushful air;
-Hears bold words, unreproving:

But her silence says what she never will swear-
And love seeks better loving.

III.

Go, lady! lean to the night-guitar,
And drop a smile to the bringer;
Then smile as sweetly, when he is far,
At the voice of an in-door singer!
Bask tenderly beneath tender eyes;
Glance lightly, on their removing;
And join new vows to old perjuries—
But dare not call it loving!

IV.

Unless you can think, when the song is done,

No other is soft in the rhythm;

Unless you can feel, when left by One,

That all men beside go with him;

Unless you can know, when unpraised by his breath, That your beauty itself wants proving;

Unless you can swear— "For life, for death!"

Oh, fear to call it loving!

V.

Unless you can muse in a crowd all day,
On the absent face that fixed you;
Unless you can love, as the angels may,
With the breadth of heaven betwixt you;
Unless you can dream that his faith is fast,
Through behoving and unbehoving;
Unless you can die when the dream is past-
Oh, never call it loving!

11*

A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS.

I.

LOVE me, sweet, with all thou art,
Feeling, thinking, seeing,—

Love me in the lightest part,

Love me in full being.

II.

Love me with thine open youth
In its frank surrender;
With the vowing of thy mouth,

With its silence tender.

III.

Love me with thine azure eyes,
Made for earnest granting!
Taking colour from the skies,

Can Heaven's truth be wanting?

IV.

Love me with their lids, that fall
Snow-like at first meeting:

Love me with thine heart, that all
The neighbours then see beating.

V.

Love me with thine hand stretched out

Freely-open-minded:

Love me with thy loitering foot,-
Hearing one behind it.

VI.

Love me with thy voice, that turns
Sudden faint above me;

Love me with thy blush that burns
When I murmur "Love me!"

VII.

Love me with thy thinking soul—
Break it to love-sighing;
Love me with thy thoughts that roll
On through living-dying.

VIII.

Love me in thy gorgeous airs,

When the world has crowned thee!

Love me, kneeling at thy prayers,
With the angels round thee.

IX.

Love me pure, as musers do,

Up the woodlands shady: Love me gaily, fast, and true, As a winsome lady.

X.

Through all hopes that keep us brave, Further off or nigher,

Love me for the house and grave,—

And for something higher.

XI.

Thus, if thou wilt prove me, dear,
Woman's love no fable,

I will love thee-half-a-year—
As a man is able.