THE VIOLET[[4]]
How captivating is to me, Sweet flower! thine own young modesty! Though did I pluck thee from thy stem, There's none would wear thy purple gem. I thought, perchance, that Ali Bey— But he is proud and lofty—nay! He would not prize thee—would not wear A flower so feeble though so fair: His turban for its decorations Had full blown roses and carnations. S. J. B.
IV
SMILIA[[5]]
Sweet Smilia-flowers did Smilia pull, Her sleevelets and her bosom full; By the cool stream she gather'd them, And twined her many a diadem— A diadem of flowery-wreaths;— One round her brows its fragrance breathes; One to her bosom-friend she throws; The other where the streamlet flows She flings, and says in gentlest tone— "Swim on, thou odorous wreath! swim on, Swim to my Juris' home, and there O whisper in his mother's ear: 'Say, wilt thou not thy Juris wed?— Then give him not a widow's bed; But some sweet maiden, young and fair.'" S. J. B.
V
HARVEST SONG
Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see Who the kissers and kiss'd of the reapers shall be. Take hold of your reeds, till the secret be told, If the old shall kiss young, and the young shall kiss old Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see What fortune and chance to the drawers decree: And if any refuse, may God smite them—may they Be cursed by Paraskeva, the saint of to-day! Now loosen your hands—now loosen, and see Who the kissers and kiss'd of the reapers shall be.[[6]] S. J. B.