LAY OP THE ROSE. 266 



The little flies did crawl 



Along the southern wall, 

 Faintly shifting, faintly shifting 

 Wings scarce strong enow for lifting. 



The nightingale did please 



To loiter beyond seas, 

 Guess him in the happy islands, 

 Hearing music from the silence. 



The lark too high or low, 



Did haply miss her so 

 With his crest down in the gorses, 

 And his song in the star-courses 1 



Only the bee, forsooth, 

 Came in th^ place of both 

 Doing honour, doing honour, 

 To the honey-dews upon her. 



The skies look'd coldl} down 



As on a royal crown ; 

 Then, drop by drop, at leisure, 

 Began to rain for pleasure. 



