Two in Arcadia

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 67509 *** [Illustration: TWO IN ARCADIA BY LUCINE FINCH BRENTANOS NEW YORK MCMVII] _Copyright, 1907, by Brentano’s_ [Illustration: TWO IN ARCADIA.] VORSPIEL (_Wild Geese_) Geese and Lovers, Lovers and Geese! Sometimes a quarrel And sometimes--peace. [Illustration] Come over the sea to me, to me, Come over the sea to me! The little ships go sailing by, But never a ship brings thee! [Illustration] There were no words, if I remember, But something subtler, deeper, Love. The night it was a cold December With a shiv’ry, silver moon above-- But in our hearts--the flame of love! [Illustration] The moon, the moon and a wide, blue sea, A boat, a breeze, and you and me! [Illustration] Every night is our night. But when the moon is high, I think the _world_ belongs to us, The earth, the sea, the sky! [Illustration] There are snow peaks in your heart, And a grayness that is cold. But wisdom comes with loving, sweet, And all your moods my love can meet-- Because my love is bold! [Illustration] Into the night we went, we two, Under the comfort of the moon. The sky was pale and the poplar-trees Swayed in the wind, Swayed and swung. And the dear night passed too soon! [Illustration] In the twilight We parted, In the night, Broken-hearted, We dreamed a sweet dream. Then we met and we parted Again, broken-hearted. But--dreams come again! [Illustration] Over the meadows-- To go! To go! Just You and Me-- In the afterglow! [Illustration] The moon is the lovers’ lantern. With paths of palest gold She lights the lovers’ night way. The moon--is never old! [Illustration] ON PASSING HER WINDOW Through the midnight my soul comes winging, In the darkness my heart is singing. All my soul to your soul I am flinging! And I’m singing to draw you to me, All to me! To draw you to me! [Illustration] HER REPLY Out of the midnight I hear you singing! O, my Beloved, I hear you singing, And, though I silent must lie, My heart sings with your heart, My heart sings with yours! [Illustration] Spring in the hills, Beloved! On the side of a meadowed slope! And love in our hearts, Beloved, Love and Spring and Hope! [Illustration] The sun is like a world of fire And I am like the sun! I shall burn through all the dreary worlds Until my flame is done. O, Heart’s Desire! My fire, my fire Shall burn for only one! [Illustration] The sun is the flame of the desert, And you are the flame of my heart! Dreary indeed is the desert unsunned, And dreary without you, my heart. [Illustration] Oh, the poor, pale moon, Beloved! She paled when you left me here. Come back to us, to the moon and me. The moon understands us, dear. [Illustration] Oh, the glow of the sun And the red of the lake And the shade of the bending tree! Oh, the sound of the waves And the sight of a sail! Oh, the song in my heart for thee! [Illustration] I hear the sea call to the moon, I hear the moon murm’ring as she sails, "I cannot fail thee, Why dost thou fear me?" I hear the wind sing to the pine-tree, I hear the pine-tree whisp’ring as she sways, "I cannot fail thee, Why dost thou fear me?" I hear my heart cry to your heart, I hear your heart beating ’gainst my own, "I cannot fail thee, Why dost thou fear me?" [Illustration] You are so dear, so dear, That all things else seem dear, The wonder of our loving Has made all else seem dear! [Illustration] Under the moon in the garden The pale lilies sleep and sway. And thou, dear white flower-woman, Sleep thou until the day! [Illustration] [Illustration] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 67509 ***