The shell is over-smooth,—and not so much

Than that first kiss. The second passed in height

When we met first and loved, I did not build

Distrusting every light that seemed to gild

XL

Slow to world-greetings, quick with its Oh, list,

First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst

Nor all which others viewing, turn to go,

The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;

(Against which years have beat thus blanchingly

In the new Heavens,—because nor sin nor woe,

And strong since then, I think that God has willed

A still renewable fear . . . O love, O troth . . .

The first, and sought the forehead, and half missed,

As if a shipwrecked Pagan, safe in port,

To pour out gratitude, as thou dost, good!

The third upon my lips was folded down

Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!

XXXVI

Half falling on the hair. O beyond meed!

That was the chrism of love, which loves own crown,

Then gathered, smell still. Mussulmans and Giaours

It is that distant years which did not take

Will turn the thing called love, aside to hate

Nor all which makes me tired of all, 九*九*藏*書self-viewed,—

Because thou hast the power and ownst the grace

This mutual kiss drop down between us both

XXXVIII

I will not gainsay love, called love forsooth.

Should set a sculptured porpoise, gills a-snort

And think it soon when others cry Too late.

The dim and weary witness of lifes race,—

Or else to oblivion. But thou art not such

For any weeping. Polyphemes white tooth

Of all that strong divineness which I know

Because thou hast the faith and love to see,

The patient angel waitihttps://read.99csw.comng for a place

I could not wear here, plainer to my sight,

A finger even. And, though I have grown serene

His guardian sea-god to commemorate,

With their rains), and behold my souls true face,

Must lose one joy, by his lifes star foretold.

For thine and thee, an image only so

Through that same souls distracting lethargy,

Lest these enclasped hands should never hold,

Pardon, oh, pardon, that my soul should make,

Throw kerchiefs at a smile, and have no ruth

To look through and behind this mask of me

Through sorrow and sickness, to bring sread.99csw.comouls to touch,

Upon the event with marble. Could it mean

And since, not so long back but that the flowers

Sorrow and sorrow? Nay, I rather thrilled,

As an unowned thing, once the lips being cold.

Thy worthiest love to a worthless counterfeit:

And Love, be false! if he, to keep one oath,

XXXIX

Thy purity of likeness and distort

Thy sovranty, recoiling with a blow,

Have forced my swimming brain to undergo

Formed of the sand, and fit to shift and break.

And ever since, it grew more clean and white,

I have heard love talked in my early youth,

With sanctifying sweetness, did precede.

Nothing repels thee, . . . Dearest, teach me so

Nor Gods infliction, nor deaths neighborhood,

Their doubt and dread, and blindly to forsake

A lover, my Beloved! thou canst wait

XXXVII

The onward path, and feared to overlean

To last, a love set pendulous between

I have been proud and said, My love, my own.

And vibrant tail, within the temple-gate.

Slips on the nut if, after frequent showers,

In perfect, purple state; since when, indeed,