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, 

 TUl 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 ! 



BROWNING. 



SNAPDRAGON 



SHE bade me follow to her garden where 

 The mellow sunlight stood as in a cup 

 Between the old grey walls ; I did not dare 

 To raise my face, I did not dare look up 

 Lest her bright eyes like sparrows should fly in 

 My windows of discovery and shrill ' Sin ! ' 

 30 



