Two Duets

written by


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I


He. Aglai-a! Aglai-a!
 Sweet, awaken and be glad.
She. Who is this that calls Aglaia?
 Is it thou, my dearest lad?
He. 'Tis Arion, 'tis Arion,
 Who calls thee from sleep-
 From slumber who bids thee
 To follow and number
 His kids and his sheep.
She. Nay, leave to entreat me!
 If mother should spy on
 Us twain, she would beat me.
He. Then come, my love, come!
  And hide with Arion
  Where green woods are dumb!

She. Ar-i-on! Ar-i-on!
  Closer, list! I am afraid!

He. Whisper, then, thy love Arion,
  From thy window, lily maid.

She. Yet Aglaia, yet Aglaia
  Hath heard them debate
  Of wooing repenting-
  "Who trust to undoing,
 Lament them too late."

He. Nay, nay, when I woo thee,
  Thy mother might spy on
  All harm I shall do thee.

She. I come, then-I come!
  To follow Arion
  Where green woods be dumb.


SONG

 Sparrow of Love, so sharp to peck,
 Arrow of Love-I bare my neck
 Down to the bosom. See, no fleck

 Of blood! I have never a wound; I go
 Forth to the greenwood. Yet, heigh-ho!
 What 'neath my girdle flutters so?

 'Tis not a bird, and yet hath wings,
 'Tis not an arrow, yet it stings;
 While in the wound it nests and sings-
  Heigh-ho!

He. Of Arion, of Arion
 That wound thou shalt learn;
 What nothings 'tis made of,
 And soft pretty soothings
 In shade of the fern.

She. When maids have a mind to,
  Man's word they rely on,
  Old warning are blind to-
  I come, then-I come
  To walk with Arion
  Where green woods are dumb!


II


He. Dear my love, and O my love,
 And O my love so lately!
 Did we wander yonder grove
 And sit awhile sedately?
 For either you did there conclude
 To do at length as I did,
 Or passion's fashion's turn'd a prude,
 And troth's an oath derided.

She. Yea, my love-and nay, my love-
  And ask me not to tell, love,
  While I delay'd an idle day
  What 'twixt us there befell, love.
  Yet either I did sit beside
  And do at length as you did,
  Or my delight is lightly by
  An idle lie deluded!

© Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch