Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: A WORLD OF ROSES 15 Because thou hast not tired, as we, How tedious must thy service be ; Love with thy zeal is surfeited ! Go to ! Love loves thee not (they said). Because thon hast not wanton shed On every hand thy heritage, Because thou art not flush (they said), But hast regard to meagre Age : Because thou art not flush, as we, How strait thy cautious soul must be, How well thy thrift stands thee in stead ! Go to! Love loves thee not (they said). And therefore, look thou not for bread — For wine and bread from Love's deep store, Because thou hast no need (they said) ; But us he 'll feast forevermore ! Because thou hast no need, as we, Sit in his purlieus, thou, and see How with Love's bounty we are fed! Go to ! Love loves thee not (they said). A WORLD OF ROSES She had a world of roses For half a wondrous day. It was the thorny season, The summer far away. From space unknown they rallied, By rhythmic charm compelled ; Their faces pale or crimson Close to her own they held. She laughed amid her rose-guard, - It was a merry rout, That mocked the thorny season, And shut its white face out. Each rose its heart did open, All tropic-rich and sweet; Each rose-heart, kind and courtly, With her own heart did beat. Untouched by time or canker, They fled, and left no trace. And then the thorny season Thrust in its blanched face. Had she not wiselier chosen For every day one rose, Instead of this brief revel From Elfland's garden-close ? Howe'er it be I know not; This only will she say, " I had my world of roses For half a wondrous day ! " THE DOMINO 17 THE BETRAYAL OF THE ROSE A White rose had a sorrow — And a strange sorrow ! For her sisters they had none, As they all sat around her Each on her feud...