away.
Have you not one with petals tenderer yet,
More deeply folded, further from the hour
When the bud dies into the mortal rose?

FLORA [_pointing._] _There_ is my youngest blossom and my fairest,
But my most wilful too--you'll pluck her not
Without some aid of magic.

LUCIA. Time has been
When I have known even your forest trees
Sway to a song of moonland. I will try it.

[_She sings and dances a witching measure._]

SONG

(_To an air by HENRY LAWES, published in 1652_)

The flowers that in thy garden rise,
Fade and are gone when Summer flies,
And as their sweets by time decay,
So shall thy hopes be cast away.

The Sun that gilds the creeping moss
Stayeth not Earth's eternal loss:
He is the lord of all that live,
Yet there is life he cannot give.

{179}

The stir of Morning's eager breath--
Beautiful Eve's impassioned death--
Thou lovest these, thou lovest well,
Yet of the Night thou canst not tell.

In every land thy feet may tread,
Time like a veil is round thy head:
Only the land thou seek'st with me
Never hath been nor yet shall be.

It is not far, it is not near,
Name it hath none that Earth can hear;
But there thy Soul shall build again
Memories long destroyed of men,
And Joy thereby shall like a river
Wander from deep to deep for ever.

[_When she has finished the child runs into her arms._]

FLORA. Your spell has won her, and I marvel not:
She was but half our own.
[_To the Child_] Farewell, dear child,
'Tis time to part, you with this lovely lady
To dance in silver halls, and gather stars
And be the dream you are: while we return
To the old toil and harvest of the Earth.
Farewell! and farewell all!

ALL. Farewell! farewell!

[_Exeunt omnes._

{180}

_The Cicalas: An Idyll_

_Scene_: AN ENGLISH GARDEN BY STARLIGHT

_Persons_: A LADY AND A POET

THE POET

Dimly I see your face: I hear your breath
Sigh faintly, as a flower might sigh in death
And when you whisper, you but stir the air
With a soft hush like summer's own despair.

THE LADY (_aloud_)

O Night divine, O Darkness ever blest,
Give to our old sad Earth eternal rest.
Since from her heart all b