The poetical works of John Payne

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1902. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... •Or quester est de tcllc sorte ct ordinance qu'a one homme ayant mis main is choses du monde des enchantemens et cuydant de pays d'eulx se departir ct se retourner a la vie de dessoubs ies astrt-s point ne luy sera licite ne fesable mau force luy sera hors de ce monde au plus tost mourir." Jbhan Du Mestvs, De rcg. incant. THE BUILDING OF THE DREAM. O Love, that never pardoneth, O Love, more pitiless than Death/ His strife is vain that would express Thy sweets without thy bitterness. His toil is vain, for sooth it is One winneth Love through Death his kiss; A man shall never know Love's land Until Death take him by the hand. O bitter Love / this is indeed The evil unto life decreed, That men shall seek thee far and nigh And finding thee, shall surely die. L DESIRE. THERE dwelt a squire in Poitou of old times, Under the fragrant limes That fringed a city very fair and wide, Set on a green hill-side; And all about the city with its slow Interminable flow, Faint mem'ries murm'ring of a bygone day, A river went, that lay Upon the woven greensward of the fields, In pools like silver shields Of fallen giants flung upon the grass, And round the walls did pass And kiss'd the grey old ramparts of the place With the enchanted grace Of its fair crystal shallows, in the mom Flush'd silver as the thorn Of a May-dawning and when day was done, Rose-ruddy with the sun, That fill'd the arteries of the land with gold. Fair was the place and old Beyond the memory of man, with roofs Tall-peak'd and hung with woofs Of dainty stone-work, jewell'd with the grace Of casements, in the face Of the white gables inlaid, in all hues Of lovely reds and blues. At every corner of the winding ways A carven saint did gaze, With mild sweet eyes, upon the quiet town, From niche and shrine of ...