_Basil And Edward_

Man hath with man on earth no holier bond Than that the Muse weaves with her dreamy thread: Nor e’er was such transcendent love more fond Than that which Edward unto Basil led, Wandering alone across the woody shires To hear the living voice of that wide heart, To see the eyes that read the world’s desires, And touch the hand that wrote the roving rhyme. Diverse their lots as distant were their homes, And since that early meeting, jealous Time Knitting their loves had held their lives apart.

But now again were these fine lovers met And sat together on a rocky hill Looking upon the vales of Somerset, Where the far sea gleam’d o’er the bosky combes, Satisfying their spirits the livelong day With various mirth and revelation due And delicate intimacy of delight, As there in happy indolence they lay And drank the sun, while round the breezy height Beneath their feet rabbit and listless ewe Nibbled the scented herb and grass at will.

Much talked they at their ease; and at the last Spoke Edward thus, ’'Twas on this very hill This time of the year,—but now twelve years are past,— That you provoked in verse my younger skill To praise the months against your rival song; And ere the sun had westered ten degrees Our rhyme had brought him thro’ the Zodiac. Have you remembered?’—Basil answer’d back, ’Guest of my solace, how could I forget? Years fly as months that seem’d in youth so long. The precious life that, like indifferent gold Is disregarded in its worth to hold Some jewel of love that God therein would set, It passeth and is gone.’—’And yet not all’ Edward replied: ’The passion as I please Of that past day I can to-day recall; And if but you, as I, remember yet Your part thereof, and will again rehearse, For half an hour we may old Time outwit.’ And Basil said, ’Alas for my poor verse! What happy memory of it still endures Will thank your love: I have forgotten it. Speak you my stanzas, I will ransom yours. Begin you then as I that day began, And I will follow as your answers ran.’