In the Saddle: A Collection of Poems on Horseback-Riding. Various

      We ride and ride. High on the hills

      The fir-trees stretch into the sky;

      The birches, which the deep calm stills,

      Quiver again as we speed by.

      Beside the road a shallow stream

      Goes leaping o'er its rocky bed:

      Here lie the corn-fields with a gleam

      Of daisies white and poppies red.

      A faint star trembles in the west;

      A fire-fly sparkles, fluttering bright

      Against the mountain's sombre breast;

      And yonder shines a village light.

      Oh! could I creep into thine arms

      Beloved! and upon thy face

      Read the arrest of dire alarms

      That press me close; from thy embrace

      View the sweet earth as on we ride.

      Alas! how vain our longings are!

      Already night is spreading wide

      Her sable wing, and thou art far.

      'Tis that fair time of year,

      Lady mine,

      When stately Guinevere,

      In her sea-green robe and hood,

      Went a-riding through the wood,

      Lady mine.

      And as the Queen did ride,

      Lady mine,

      Sir Launcelot at her side

      Laughed and chatted, bending over,

      Half her friend and all her lover,

      Lady mine.

      And as they rode along,

      Lady mine,

      The throstle gave them song,

      And the buds peeped through the grass

      To see youth and beauty pass,

      Lady mine.

      And on, through deathless time,

      Lady mine,

      These lovers in their prime,

      (Two fairy ghosts together!)

      Ride, with sea-green robe, and feather!

      Lady mine.

      And so we two will ride,

      Lady mine,

      At your pleasure, side by side,

      Laugh and chat; I bending over,

      Half your friend and all your lover!

      Lady mine.

      But if you like not this,

      Lady mine,

      And take my love amiss,

      Then I'll ride unto the end,

      Half your lover, all your friend!

      Lady mine.

      So, come which way you will,

      Lady mine,

      Vale, upland, plain, and hill

      Wait your coming. For one day

      Loose the bridle, and away!

      Lady mine.

      I said – Then, dearest, since 'tis so,

      Since now at length my fate I know,

      Since nothing all my love avails,

      Since all my life seemed meant for, fails,

      Since this was written and needs must be —

      My whole heart rises up to bless

      Your name in pride and thankfulness!

      Take back the hope you gave, – I claim

      Only a memory of the same,

      – And this beside, if you will not blame,

      Your leave for one more last ride with me.

      My mistress bent that brow of hers,

      Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs

      When pity would be softening through,

      Fixed me a breathing-while or two

      With life or death in the balance – Right!

      The blood replenished me again:

      My last thought was at least not vain.

      I and my mistress, side by side

      Shall be together, breathe and ride,

      So one day more am I deified.

      Who knows but the world may end to-night?

      Hush! if you saw some western cloud

      All billowy-bosomed, over-bowed

      By many benedictions – sun's

      And moon's and evening-star's at once —

      And so, you, looking and loving best,

      Conscious grew, your passion drew

      Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star-shine too

      Down on you, near and yet more near,

      Till flesh must fade for heaven was here! —

      Thus leant she and lingered – joy and fear!

      Thus lay she a moment on my breast.

      Then we began to ride. My soul

      Smoothed itself out, a long-cramped scroll

      Freshening and fluttering in the wind.

      Past hopes already lay behind.

      What need to strive with a life awry?

      Had I said that, had I done this,

      So might I gain, so might I miss.

      Might she have loved me? just as well

      She might have hated, – who can tell?

      Where