Today we turn the page in The Pocket University Guide to Daily Readings (1925).

Where a book raises your spirit, and inspires you with noble and courageous feelings, seek for no other rule to judge the event by; it is good and made by a good workman.

Jean De La Bruyere

Today in the year 1812, Robert Browning was born.

We shall dispense with that infallible source today and go straight to a crappy old book, A Student’s History of English Literature (revised, 1921).

This is nice.

Daily Readings April 7

• Landor’s “To Robert Browning“
• “A king Lived Long Ago” [from Pippa Passes, Morning, I think but I cannot find it]
• “Evelyn Hope”
• “How They Brought the Good News”
• “A Woman’s Last Word”

A Woman’s Last Word

I.
Let's contend no more, Love,
Strive nor weep:
All be as before, Love,
—Only sleep!
II.
What so wild as words are?
I and thou
In debate, as birds are,
Hawk on bough!
III.
See the creature stalking
While we speak!
Hush and hide the talking,
Cheek on cheek!
IV.
What so false as truth is,
False to thee?
Where the serpent's tooth is
Shun the tree—
V.
Where the apple reddens
Never pry—
Lest we lose our Edens,
Eve and I.
VI.
Be a god and hold me
With a charm!
Be a man and fold me
With thine arm!
VII.
Teach me, only teach, Love
As I ought
I will speak thy speech, Love,
Think thy thought—
VIII.
Meet, if thou require it,
Both demands,
Laying flesh and spirit
In thy hands.
IX.
That shall be to-morrow
Not to-night:
I must bury sorrow
Out of sight:
X.
—Must a little weep, Love,
(Foolish me!)
And so fall asleep, Love,
Loved by thee.