To woo sweet kisses from averted faces, Play with their fingers, touch their shoulders white

Into a pretty shrinking with a bite
As hard as lips can make it: till agreed,
A lovely tale of human life we'll read. 110
And one will teach a tame dove how it best
May fan the cool air gently o'er my rest;
Another, bending o'er her nimble tread,
Will set a green robe floating round her
head,

And still will dance with ever-varied ease,
Smiling upon the flowers and the trees:
Another will entice me on, and on
Through almond blossoms and rich cinna-

But off, Despondence! miserable bane! They should not know thee, who athirst to gain

A noble end, are thirsty every hour.
What though I am not wealthy in the dower
Of spanning wisdom; though I do not know
The shiftings of the mighty winds that
blow

thoughts

sonnet

Into the brain ere one can think upon it; 320 The silence when some rhymes are coming out;

And when they're come, the very pleasant

rout:

The message certain to be done to-morrow. 'Tis perhaps as well that it should be to borrow

Some precious book from out its snug

retreat,

To cluster round it when we next shall

meet.

Scarce can I scribble on; for lovely airs

Are fluttering round the room like doves in pairs ;

Many delights of that glad day recalling, When first my senses caught their tender falling.

330

Of vine leaves. Then there rose to view a fane

Of liny marble, and thereto a train Of nymphs approaching fairly o'er the sward:

toward