Iii

I came to you when eve was young: And, where the park rolled downward to The river, and among the dew, One vesper moment, lit and sung A bird, your eyes said something true, Said something to my eyes, more dear Than song the bird poured, silver-clear. How sweet it was to be with you! How, with our souls, we seemed to hear The night approaching with its stars! How calm the moon sloped up her sphere Of fire-filled pearl through passive bars Of clouds that berged the tender east! While all the dark inanimate Of Nature woke; initiate With th' moon's arrival, something ceased In Nature's soul: she stood again Another self, that seemed t' have been Dormant, suppressed and so unseen All day: a life, unknown and strange And dream-suggestive, that had lain,-- Masked on with light,--within the range Of thought, but unrevealed till now. It was the hour of love. And you, With downward eyes and pensive brow, Among the moonlight and the dew,-- Although no word of love was spoken,-- Heard the sweet night's confession broken Of something here more sweet in me: A love, depth made inaudible, Save to your soul, that answered well, With eyes replying silently.