THE MASK. I. I HAVE a smiling face, she said, I have a garland for my head, And all its flowers are sweet,— And so you call me gay, she said. II. Grief taught to me this smile, she said, III. Behind no prison-grate, she said, Which slurs the sunshine half a mile, Are captives so uncomforted, As souls behind a smile. God's pity let us pray, she said. IV. I know my face is bright, she said,— I bear upon my forehead shed, V. If I dared leave this smile, she said. VI. And since that must not be, she said, VII. But in your bitter world, she said, Grief's earnest makes life's play, she said. Ye VIII. weep for those who weep ?-she saidAh fools!-I bid you pass them by; Go, weep for those whose hearts have bled, What time their eyes were dry! Whom sadder can I say?—she said. CALLS ON THE HEART. I. REE Heart, that singest to-day, FREE Like a bird on the first green spray; Wilt thou go forth to the world, Where the hawk hath his wing unfurled Where the tamer, thine own, will bind, While the little hip grows for the free behind? Free hearts are better so." II. The world, thou hast heard it told, And the pieces stick to the hand. The world goes riding it fair and grand, While the truth is bought and sold! World-voice east, world-voices west, They call thee, Heart, from thine early rest, "Come hither, come hither and be our guest." Heart, wilt thou go? “No, no! Good hearts are calmer so." III. Who calleth thee, Heart? World's Strife, With a golden heft to his knife: Her blood-red plans of life: World's Gain, with a brow knit down: World's Fame, with a laurel crown, Which rustles most as the leaves turn brownHeart, wilt thou go? -"No, no! Calm hearts are wiser so." IV. Hast heard that Proserpina To think how the sun shone yesterday? With her ankles sunken in asphodel, She wept for the roses of earth, which fell From her lap, when the wild car drave to hell. Heart, wilt thou go? -"No, no! Wise hearts are warmer so." V. And what is this place not seen, There, I sit with Love in the sun, And we two never have done Singing sweeter songs than are guessed by one." Heart, wilt thou go? That Love may be kept too near. Full hearts beat higher so.' VII. O Heart, O Love, beware!- For who has twirled at the pin? 'Tis the world, between Death and Sin,— The world, and the world's Despair! And Death has quickened his pace Familiar as Love, in Love's own place— |