Upon that tender eye, my little friend, Soft sleep shall come, that cometh not to me! I watch to see thee, nourish thee, defend ; 'Tis sweet to watch for thee, alone for thee! His arms fall down; sleep sits upon his brow; His eye is closed; he sleeps, nor dreams of harm. Wore not his cheek the apple's ruddy glow, Would you not say he slept on Death's cold arm? Awake, my boy!-I tremble with affright! Awake, and chase this fatal thought !-Unclose Thine eye but for one moment on the light! Even at the price of thine, give me repose ! Sweet error! he but slept, I breathe again; Come gentle dreams the hour of sleep beguile! O when shall he for whom I sigh in vain, Beside me watch to see thy waking smile? RONDEL. FROM FROISSARD. LOVE, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? Nought see I fixed or sure in thee! Nought see I fixed or sure in thee! Ye who are blessed in loving, tell it me: Nought see I permanent or sure in thee! RONDEL. FROM THE DUKE OF ORLEANS. Think ye thus to govern me That shall ye not, I promise ye: If ever ye return this way, With your mournful company, A curse be on ye, and the day That brings ye moping back to me! Hence away, begone, I say, Carking care and melancholy! RENOUVEAU. Now Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain, And clothes him in the embroidery Of glittering sun and clear blue sky. With beast and bird the forest rings, Each in his jargon cries or sings; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain. River, and fount, and tinkling brook Wear in their dainty livery Drops of silver jewelry; In new-made suit they merry look; And Time throws off his cloak again Of ermined frost, and cold and rain. FRIAR LUBIN. So oft, the times I cannot tell; Friar Lubin will do it well. But a sober life to lead, To honour virtue, and pursue it, That's a pious, Christian deed, Friar Lubin cannot do it. To mingle with a knowing smile, The goods of others with his own, And leave you without cross or pile, Friar Lubin stands alone. If once he lays his finger to it; Friar Lubin cannot do it. With flattering words and gentle tone, To woo and win some guileless maid, Friar Lubin knows the trade. But as for water, doth eschew it; Friar Lubin cannot do it. ENVOI. DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP TURPIN. THE archbishop, whom God loved in high degree, Beheld his wounds all bleeding fresh and free; And then his cheek more ghastly grew and wan, And a faint shudder through his members ran. Upon the battle-field his knee was bent; Brave Roland saw, and to his succour went, Straightway his helmet from his brow unlaced, And tore the shining hauberk from his breast; Then raising in his arms the man of God, Gently he laid him on the verdant sod. “Rest, Sire,” he cried,—" for rest thy suffering needs." The priest replied, “ Think but of warlike deeds! The field is ours; well may we boast this strife! But death steals on,—there is no hope of life; In paradise, where the almoners live again, There are our couches spread,—there shall we rest from pain." Sore Roland grieved ; nor marvel I, alas! That thrice he swooned upon the thick, green grass. When he revived, with a loud voice cried he, “O Heavenly Father! Holy Saint Marie! Why lingers death to lay me in my grave? Beloved France ! how have the good and brave Been torn from thee and left thee weak and poor!” Then thoughts of Aude, his lady-love, came o'er His spirit, and he whispered soft and slow, “My gentle friend !-what parting full of woe! Never so true a liegeman shalt thou see ;Whate'er my fate, Christ's benison on thee; Christ, who did save from realms of woe beneath The Hebrew prophets from the second death.” Then to the paladins, whom well he knew, TO CARDINAL RICHELIEU. FROM MALHERBE. |