"A GARDEN ENCLOSED" 185 



But do not detain me now ; for she lingers 

 There, like sunshine over the ground, 



And ever I see her soft white fingers 

 Searching after the bud she found. 



Flower, you Spaniard, look that you grow not, 



Stay as you are and be loved for ever ! 

 Bud, if I kiss you, 'tis that you blow not : 



Mind, the shut pink mouth opens never ! 

 For while it pouts, her fingers wrestle, 



Twinkling the audacious leaves between, 

 Till round they turn and down they nestle 



Is not the dear mark still to be seen ? 



Where I find her not, beauties vanish ; 



Whither I follow her, beauties flee ; 

 Is there no method to tell her in Spanish 



June's twice June since she breathed it with me? 

 Come, bud, show me the least of her traces, 



Treasure my lady's lightest footfall ! 

 Ah, you may flout and turn up your faces 



Roses, you are not so fair after all ! 



ROBERT BROWNING. 



"A GARDEN ENCLOSED" 



A GARDEN enclosed is my sister, my spouse ; a 

 spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are 

 an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; 

 camphire, with spikenard ; spikenard and saffron ; 

 calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frank- 



