TWO BALLADS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 17, 3 May 1895, Page 7

TWO BALLADS.

I. My lady's face ! What beauty centres there When soul meets soul enoompa«B9d round With golden glory, as with gems new ground In love's sweet alchemy. All nature rings with music of thy lovo— The sunlight palpitates with pasrion puro, And pale moon-rays, With chaste sweec light, but trace On plain and hill, And far in starlight space — My lady's f aoe ! My lady's faco ! Now young as it is fair, Some day will be enorownod with grey, As burnished gold reveals a silver ra y So sweet and old. ; Then as all things in this enchanted world Grow sweeter, softer, 'neath the touch of lime, My love will grow Till naught could e'er displace From its fair shrine, Wherein 1 fiin would place My lady's face ! 11. Fair is the earlh when the love-liqbt glances Bright from the eyes from man and maid, Fair when eaoh touch and look entrances, Thrilling with tenderness, passion swayed, Bright are the days while that love is glowing. Bliss far too sweet for mortal life, Faith neither doubt nor peril knowing, ' Joy that knows neither fear nor Bttife. Changed is the world when that love is waning, Doubts fain would creep in paradise j Trust that is Btill as uncomplaining, Hope that would yet new love entice. Dark are all things when that love's departed Left but a mem'ry keen aod sore, Left but two lovers joyless— partedStorm- wrack cast upon life's share. — Ebnest I). Hodbn, Wellington.