Browning songs (Second Series)

All, that I know
Of a certain star
Is, it can throw
(Like the angled spar)
Now a dart of red,
Now a dart of blue
Till my friends have said
They would fain see, too,
My star that dartles the red and the blue!
Then it stops like a bird; like a flower, hangs furled:
They must solace themselves with the Saturn above it.
What matter to me if their star is a world?
Mine has opened its soul to me; therefore I love it.

And so you found that poor room dull,
Dark, hardly to your taste, my dear?
Its features seemed unbeautiful:
But this I know -- 't was there, not here,
You plighted troth to me, the word
Which -- ask that poor room how it heard[.]

And this rich room obtains your praise
Unqualified, -- so bright, so fair,
So all whereat perfection stays?
Ay, but remember -- here, not there,
The other word was spoken! Ask
This rich room how you dropped the mask[.]

I.
Let's contend no more, Love,
Strive nor weep:
All be as before, Love,
-- Only sleep!

II.
What so wild as words are?
I and thou
In debate, as birds are,
Hawk on bough!

III.
See the creature stalking
While we speak!
Hush and hide the talking,
Cheek on cheek!

IV.
What so false as truth is,
False to thee?
Where the serpent's tooth is
Shun the tree --

V.
Where the apple reddens
Never pry --
Lest we lose our Edens,
Eve and I.

VI.
Be a god and hold me
With a charm!
Be a man and fold me
With thine arm!

VII.
Teach me, only teach, Love
As I ought
I will speak thy speech, Love,
Think thy thought --

VIII.
Meet, if thou require it,
Both demands,
Laying flesh and spirit
In thy hands.

IX.
That shall be to-morrow
Not to-night:
I must bury sorrow
Out of sight:

X.
-- Must a little weep, Love,
(Foolish me!)
And so fall asleep, Love,
Loved by thee.

Good to forgive;
Best, to forget!
Living, we fret;
Dying, we live.
Fretless and free,
Soul, clap thy pinion!
Earth have dominion,
Body, o'er thee!

Wander at will,
Day after day, --
Wander away,
Wandering still -- Soul that canst soar!
Body may slumber:
Body shall cumber
Soul-flight no more

Waft of soul's wing!
What lies above?
Sunshine and Love,
Sky-blue and Spring
Body hides -- where?
Ferns of all feather,
Mosses and heather,
Yours be the care!

All June I bound the rose in sheaves.
Now, rose by rose, I strip the leaves
And strew them where Pauline may pass.
She will not turn aside? Alas!
Let them lie. Suppose they die?
The chance was they might take her eye.

How many a month I strove to suit
These stubborn fingers to the lute!
To-day I venture all I know.
She will not hear my music? So!
Break the string; fold music's wing:
Suppose Pauline had bade me sing!

My whole life long I learned to love.
This hour my utmost art I prove
And speak my passion -- heaven or hell?
She will not give me heaven? 'T is well!
Lose who may -- I still can say,
Those who win heaven, blest are they!

So, the year's done with
(_Love me for ever!_)
All March begun with,
April's endeavour;
May-wreaths that bound me
June needs must sever;
Now snows fall round me,
Quenching June's fever --
(_Love me for ever!_)