VILLANELLE.

Wouldst thou not be content to die,

When low-hung fruit is hardly clinging, And golden Autumn passes by?

If we could vanish, thou and I,

While the last woodland bird is singing, Wouldst thou not be content to die?

Deep drifts of leaves in the forest lie,
Red vintage that the frost is flinging,
And golden Autumn passes by.

Beneath this delicate rose-gray sky,

While sunset bells are faintly ringing, Wouldst thou not be content to die?

For wintry webs of mist on high,

Out of the muffled earth are springing, And golden Autumn passes by.

O now when pleasures fade and fly,

And Hope her southward flight is winging, Wouldst thou not be content to die?

Lest Winter come, with wailing cry,
His cruel icy bondage bringing,
When golden Autumn hath passed by,

And thou, with many a tear and sigh,

While Life her wasted hands is wringing,

Shalt pray in vain for leave to die,

When golden Autumn hath passed by.

-E. W. Gosse.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

NOTE. The numerals refer to pages. The letter ƒ after a numeral signifies that
the subject is continued on the following pages.

Alexandrine, 14, 38, 39, 80, 83, 88, Choriambic, 114.

CASURAL PAUSE, 71, 89, 92, 103, Elevens, 36.

Extra-rhythmical Syllables, 26, 98, OCTAMETER, 12.