POETRY.
THE APPROACH OF SPRING.
(AN EXPERIMENT IN PRAXILLA'S METRE.)
[5.ri aa euptacur KaADv 413A‘roura, Tav tc€ (PaAa.v, Tic 8' &Epee veppa.
Gladsome thy aspect, dear bride, as thy glances gladden Lattices framing the face of a nest-wed maiden.]
SPRING tripping deftly on feet of delight and music, Spring moving swiftly through groves in the chilly twilight, Draws from the earth by her magic a murmur telling Maidens and youths that the hour of the winter shortens— Hour of the fireside and legends that all remember— Telling of other and even more wondrous visions Soon to be seen in the morning when love awakens, Love that is born with the lilies to life immortal.
Spring, singing softly, rejoices the purpling hedgerows, Calls to the elder to put forth her early leafage, Summons the snowdrop amid the half-frozen grasses, Traces the circles that fairies at day-dawn dance ill, Loiters through lanes where the violet hides in wonder, Deep in the green of the banks, while the golden primrose Bursts from his nest to behold the undaunted singer, Yea, and Apollo blue-throned in the cloud-winged heaven.
Old folk and children are waiting that she may kiss them, Keep them and make them all children akin in spirit; Young men and maidens are watching her dancing toward them, Bringing the music of life and the dreams that fade not..
J. E. DE MONTMORENCY.
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