SOUNDINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2859, 30 December 1908, Page 85

SOUNDINGS.

" Little w« knovr of the hoary Sea Till (be Ken of Lead and Line Solve oi » tithe of its mygterj, sii«w Strange »Je«m&. of the limitle** life below With their soundings: here be mine."

ISOLDE, i. "Strong but untender, ycur Isolde, and keen, " But never kind ; most courteous, but yet cold ; "Doing her „ charities so manifold "With the precision of a fine machine; " Wasting no force unduly, certe« — mean " Or mighty their exaetest portion doled, '" Yet is there neither Joy nor Love nor — " Hold,

My Friend, no more ! She loveth— l have scon.

A delicate Spirit She, a Spirit rare : To Her ideals so tremulously true That but by excess She errs. Too great Her care To wound no single living creature : too Too wholly gentle for our grosser air, Her nature, fragrant fresh of Dawn and Dew.

n. She loveth : I have seen in those veiled eyes — Veiled lest some shrinking Soul misread their thrill, And gaze affrighted on imagined ill — Glories they know alone, Love maketh wise. She joyeth: I have watcht light laughter riso And flash and ripple o'er those cheeke so still — Still lest their play the cup of torture

fill For one in voiceless agony that lies. Strong, yes, and tender; keen, and also kind ; Cold — nay, but warm with the primeval flame; Precise from equipoise of heart and mind. Knowledge and Love made one. No pride-walled Dame, Isolde, but Lowliness infiesht; all blind To the rosy radiance, beats about Her name.

Mabitas