Now rest thee, maiden, on this pillowy bed, With fragrance canopied, with beauty spread; Above thee hovers eglantine's caress, Around thee glows entangled loveliness; Shy primrose smiles, thy gentle smile to woo, And violets take thy glances for the dew."

&Glycera&

"Then will they pluck themselves, to see me laugh; Good flowers bring cash; but who will pay for chaff?

But haply thus the true poet intervenes, To make us wonder what on earth he means."

$Pausias$

"A poet! We do things in a superior way; A painter is a poet, who makes it pay.

A poet, though deep and mystic as the Sphinx, Will ne'er earn half of what he eats and drinks, He dreams of G.o.ds, but of himself he thinks."

[Ill.u.s.tration: 146.]

Scene III.--_A western slope near Sicyon. Pausias has his easel set, Glycera is dressed in white._

$Pausias$

"Seven times the moon hath filled her silver horn, And twice a hundred suns awoke the morn, Since thou and I--for half the praise is thine-- Began this study of the flowers divine."

$Glycera$

"Alas! how swiftly have the months gone by!"

$Pausias$

"Not swift alone, but pa.s.sing sweet for me."

$Glycera$

"The world, that was so large, is you and I."

$Pausias$

"And shall be larger still, when it is 'We.'"

$Glycera$

(Aside) "Sweet dual! Alas, that this shall never be!"

$Pausias$

"A tear, bright Glycera in those eyes of thine, Those tender eyes, that should with triumph shine!

When I, the owner of that precious heart, Am shouting Io Paean of high art; The n.o.blest picture underneath the sun-- A few more strokes, and victory is won!"

$Glycera$

"Nay, heed me not. True pleasure is not dry; The sunrise of the heart bedews the eye."

$Pausias$

"If that were all--but lately there hath been A listless air beneath thy livery mien; Thyself art all fair petal, and sweet perfume, And smiles that light the damask of thy bloom; Yet some, pale distance seems to chill the whole."

$Glycera$

"Forgive me, love, forgive a timorous soul.

Through brightest hours untimely vapours rise-- But while I prate, the lucky moment flies.

The work, the weather, and the world are fair; A few more strokes--and fame flies everywhere."

$Pausias$

"Who cares for fame, except with love to share?"

$Glycera$

"To share! Nay every breath of it is mine, Whene'er it breathes on thee; for I am thine.

But pardon now--if I have seemed sometime Impatient, glib, too pert for things sublime, Remember that I meant not so to sink; Forgive your Glycera, when you come to think."

$Pausias$

"I'll not forgive my Glycera--until She hath discovered how to do some ill.

Now don once more this coronet of bloom, While lilies sweet thy sweeter breast illume."

$Glycera$

(Aside) "Ah me, what brightness wasted upon gloom!

(Aloud) Oh fling thy sponge across this wretched face, A patch uncouth amid a world of grace."

$Pausias$

"Sweet love, thy beauty far outshineth them; The tinsel they are, thou the living gem.

Great gift of G.o.ds! Shall flowers of earth despise Those flowers of heaven--thy tresses, and thine eyes?

Away with gloom I let no ill-boding make My heart to falter, or my hand to shake.

One hour is all I crave. If that be long, Sweet lips beguile it with my favourite song."

$Glycera$

"A song like mine, a childish lullaby, Will close--when needed wide-awake--thine eye.

But since thou so demandest, let me try.

"In the fresh woods have I been, Sprinkled with the morning dew; And of all that I have seen, Lo, the fairest are for you!

Take your choice of many a flower, Lily, rose, and melilot, Lilac, myrtle, virgin's bower, Pansy, and forget-me-not.

Ladies'-tresses, and harebell, Jasmin, daphne, violet, Meadow-sweet, and pimpernel, Maidenhair, and mignonette.

What is gold, that doth allure Foolish hearts from field and flower?

If you plant them in it pure, Will they keep alive an hour?