192 THE LOVER IN THE GARDEN 



The shy white Jasmine drew aside her veil, 

 Breathing faint fragrance on the loitering gale, 



And nodded, nodded " Yes ! 

 Sweetest of all sweet things is Love ! and wise ! 

 Dance, Tulip ! Pipe, fond Bird, thy melodies ! 



Wake, Rose of Loveliness ! " 



" Yet," sighed the swaying Cypress, ' ' who can tell 

 If Love be wise as sweet ? if it be well 



For Love to dance and sing ? 

 I see growing here always year by year 

 The Bulbuls die, and on their grassy bier 



Rose-petals scattering ! " 



All in that Garden green the Rose replied : 

 " Ah ! Cypress, look ! I put my leaves aside ; 



Mark what is 'mid this bush ! 

 Three blue eggs in a closely-woven nest, 

 Sheltered, for music's sake, by branch and breast ! 



There will be Bulbuls ! hush ! " 



All in that Garden green the Bulbul trilled, 

 " Oh, foolish Cypress ! thinking Love was killed 



Because he seemed to cease ! 

 My best Belov'd hath secrets at her heart, 

 Gold seeds of summer-time, new buds to start ; 



There will be Roses ! peace ! " 



Then lightlier danced the Tulips than before 

 To waftings of the perfumed breeze, and more 



Chanted the Nightingale : 

 The fireflies in the palms fresh lanterns lit ; 

 Her zone of grace the blushing Rose unknit, 



And blossomed, pure and pale ! 



EDWIN ARNOLD. 



