SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
To watch the purple earth's blood fill 195
The grey vat to the maiden's tune?
The Sirens.
When thou beginnest to grow old,
Bring back remembrance of thy bliss
With that the shining cup doth hold,
And weary helplessly of this. 200
Orpheus.
Or pleasureless shall we pass by
The long cold night and leaden day,
That song, and tale, and minstrelsy
Shall make as merry as the May?
The Sirens.
List then to-night, to some old tale 205
Until the tears o'erflow thine eyes;
But what shall all these things avail,
When sad to-morrow comes and dies?
Orpheus.
And when the world is born again,
And with some fair love, side by side, 210
Thou wanderest 'twixt the sun and rain,
In that fresh lovfr-begetting tide;
Then, when the world is born again,
And the sweet year before thee lies,
Shall thy heart think of coming pain, 215
Or vex itself with memories ?
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