Poems by Christina Georgina Rossetti Part 40

She trapped him with one mesh of silken hair, She vanquished him by wisdom of her wit, And built her people's house that it should stand:-- If I might take my life so in my hand, And for my love to Love put up my prayer, And for love's sake by Love be granted it!

9.

"O dignitosa coscienza e netta!"--Dante.

"Spirto piu acceso di virtuti ardenti."--Petrarca.

Thinking of you, and all that was, and all That might have been and now can never be, I feel your honored excellence, and see Myself unworthy of the happier call: For woe is me who walk so apt to fall, So apt to shrink afraid, so apt to flee, Apt to lie down and die (ah, woe is me!) Faithless and hopeless turning to the wall.

And yet not hopeless quite nor faithless quite, Because not loveless; love may toil all night, But take at morning; wrestle till the break Of day, but then wield power with G.o.d and man:-- So take I heart of grace as best I can, Ready to spend and be spent for your sake.

10.

"Con miglior corso e con migliore stella."--Dante.

"La vita fugge e non s'arresta un' ora."--Petrarca.

Time flies, hope flags, life plies a wearied wing; Death following hard on life gains ground apace; Faith runs with each and rears an eager face, Outruns the rest, makes light of everything, Spurns earth, and still finds breath to pray and sing; While love ahead of all uplifts his praise, Still asks for grace and still gives thanks for grace, Content with all day brings and night will bring.

Life wanes; and when love folds his wings above Tired hope, and less we feel his conscious pulse, Let us go fall asleep, dear friend, in peace: A little while, and age and sorrow cease; A little while, and life reborn annuls Loss and decay and death, and all is love.

11.

"Vien dietro a me e lascia dir le genti."--Dante.

"Contando i casi della vita nostra."--Petrarca.

Many in aftertimes will say of you "He loved her"--while of me what will they say?

Not that I loved you more than just in play, For fas.h.i.+on's sake as idle women do.

Even let them prate; who know not what we knew Of love and parting in exceeding pain, Of parting hopeless here to meet again, Hopeless on earth, and heaven is out of view.

But by my heart of love laid bare to you, My love that you can make not void nor vain, Love that foregoes you but to claim anew Beyond this pa.s.sage of the gate of death, I charge you at the Judgment make it plain My love of you was life and not a breath.

12.

"Amor, che ne la mente mi ragiona."--Dante.

"Amor vien nel bel viso di costei."--Petrarca.

If there be any one can take my place And make you happy whom I grieve to grieve, Think not that I can grudge it, but believe I do commend you to that n.o.bler grace, That readier wit than mine, that sweeter face; Yea, since your riches make me rich, conceive I too am crowned, while bridal crowns I weave, And thread the bridal dance with jocund pace.

For if I did not love you, it might be That I should grudge you some one dear delight; But since the heart is yours that was mine own, Your pleasure is my pleasure, right my right, Your honorable freedom makes me free, And you companioned I am not alone.

13.

"E drizzeremo gli occhi al Primo Amore."--Dante.

"Ma trovo peso non da le mie braccia."--Petrarca.

If I could trust mine own self with your fate, Shall I not rather trust it in G.o.d's hand?

Without Whose Will one lily doth not stand, Nor sparrow fall at his appointed date; Who numbereth the innumerable sand, Who weighs the wind and water with a weight, To Whom the world is neither small nor great, Whose knowledge foreknew every plan we planned.

Searching my heart for all that touches you, I find there only love and love's goodwill Helpless to help and impotent to do, Of understanding dull, of sight most dim; And therefore I commend you back to Him Whose love your love's capacity can fill.

14.

"E la Sua Volontade e nostra pace."--Dante.

"Sol con questi pensier, con altre chiome."--Petrarca.

Youth gone, and beauty gone if ever there Dwelt beauty in so poor a face as this; Youth gone and beauty, what remains of bliss?

I will not bind fresh roses in my hair, To shame a cheek at best but little fair,-- Leave youth his roses, who can bear a thorn,-- I will not seek for blossoms anywhere, Except such common flowers as blow with corn.

Youth gone and beauty gone, what doth remain?

The longing of a heart pent up forlorn, A silent heart whose silence loves and longs; The silence of a heart which sang its songs While youth and beauty made a summer morn, Silence of love that cannot sing again.

"LUSCIOUS AND SORROWFUL."

Beautiful, tender, wasting away for sorrow; Thus to-day; and how shall it be with thee to-morrow?

Beautiful, tender--what else?

A hope tells.

Beautiful, tender, keeping the jubilee In the land of home together, past death and sea; No more change or death, no more Salt sea-sh.o.r.e.

DE PROFUNDIS.

Oh why is heaven built so far, Oh why is earth set so remote?

I cannot reach the nearest star That hangs afloat.

I would not care to reach the moon, One round monotonous of change; Yet even she repeats her tune Beyond my range.

I never watch the scattered fire Of stars, or sun's far-trailing train, But all my heart is one desire, And all in vain:

For I am bound with fleshly bands, Joy, beauty, lie beyond my scope; I strain my heart, I stretch my hands, And catch at hope.

TEMPUS FUGIT.

Lovely Spring, A brief sweet thing, Is swift on the wing; Gracious Summer, A slow sweet comer, Hastens past; Autumn while sweet Is all incomplete With a moaning blast,-- Nothing can last, Can be cleaved unto, Can be dwelt upon; It is hurried through, It is come and gone, Undone it cannot be done, It is ever to do, Ever old, ever new, Ever waxing old And lapsing to Winter cold.