LilianFirst printed in 1830.1Airy, fairy Lilian,Flitting, fairy Lilian,When I ask her if she love me,Claps her tiny hands above me,Laughing all she can;She’ll not tell me if she love me,Cruel little Lilian.2When my passion seeksPleasance in love-sighsShe, looking thro’ and thro’[1]meThoroughly to undo me,Smiling, never speaks:So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple,From beneath her gather’d wimple[2]Glancing with black-beaded eyes,Till the lightning laughters dimpleThe baby-roses in her cheeks;Then away she flies.3Prythee weep, May Lilian!Gaiety without eclipseWearieth me, May Lilian:Thro’[3]my very heart it thrillethWhen from crimson-threaded[4]lipsSilver-treble laughter[5]trilleth:Prythee weep, May Lilian.4Praying all I can,If prayers will not hush thee,Airy Lilian,Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee,Fairy Lilian.[1]1830. Through and through me.[2]1830. Purfled.[3]1830. Through.[4]With “crimson-threaded”cf.Cleveland’sSing-song on Clarinda’s Wedding, “Herlips those threads of scarlet dye”; but the original isSolomons Songiv. 3, “Thy lips arelike a thread of scarlet”.[5]1830. Silver treble-laughter.
First printed in 1830.
1
Airy, fairy Lilian,Flitting, fairy Lilian,When I ask her if she love me,Claps her tiny hands above me,Laughing all she can;She’ll not tell me if she love me,Cruel little Lilian.
2
When my passion seeksPleasance in love-sighsShe, looking thro’ and thro’[1]meThoroughly to undo me,Smiling, never speaks:So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple,From beneath her gather’d wimple[2]Glancing with black-beaded eyes,Till the lightning laughters dimpleThe baby-roses in her cheeks;Then away she flies.
3
Prythee weep, May Lilian!Gaiety without eclipseWearieth me, May Lilian:Thro’[3]my very heart it thrillethWhen from crimson-threaded[4]lipsSilver-treble laughter[5]trilleth:Prythee weep, May Lilian.
4
Praying all I can,If prayers will not hush thee,Airy Lilian,Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee,Fairy Lilian.
[1]1830. Through and through me.
[2]1830. Purfled.
[3]1830. Through.
[4]With “crimson-threaded”cf.Cleveland’sSing-song on Clarinda’s Wedding, “Herlips those threads of scarlet dye”; but the original isSolomons Songiv. 3, “Thy lips arelike a thread of scarlet”.
[5]1830. Silver treble-laughter.