58344: The Rivals

<p dir="ltr"> If thou guessed what easy hours<br> I can fleet among my flowers,<br> How I fondle them, and how<br> Find them better friends than Thou,<br> Haply, love, the thing might shame thee;<br> Haply with some spite inflame thee.<br> Nay, indeed, thou art not all;<br> And I can forget thy thrall.<br> For I shall when summer comes<br> Sport me with my garden chums,<br> Orchid, harebell, fern, and foxglove.<br> Then thou'lt tear thy pretty locks, love,<br> Twisting curls round jealous fingers. ...;<br> When thou find'st thy true love lingers<br> Longer o'er the rose than thee,<br> Know thou hast great rivalry;<br> Cry to see it, careless elf,<br> Bite thy lips, but blame thyself!<br> Many a slim tree, dark of tresses,<br> Whispering, gives me strange caresses.<br> Steadfast shines Narcissus' eye<br> When I would his beauty try.<br> And he loads my sighs with scent,<br> Not with frowns of discontent.<br> Water lilies all tranquil lie<br> When their secrecies I spy.<br> Ruddy pout the mouths of roses---<br> More I kiss, more each uncloses.<br> Even violets, who are shy<br> Of their cousin in the sky,<br> Do not stiffen or resent<br> When a fingertip is bent<br> Round their chins. And if, like thee,<br> Little snowdrops were foot-free,<br> Would they run from me, and vent<br> Laughs of scornful merriment?<br> Nay, they love me, as I them.<br> Oh, my loves of bud and stem,<br> Tell my Maid what lightsome hours<br> I spend with you in your bowers<br> This may pique her jealousy;<br> Haply charm her back to me.</p>