Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. V. Browning to Rupert Brooke

Andrew Lang (1844–1912)

The Old Love and the New

HOW oft I’ve watched her footstep glide

Across the enamelled plain,

And deemed she was the fairest bride

And I the fondest swain!

How oft with her I’ve cast me down

Beneath the odorous limes,

How often twined her daisy crown,

In the glad careless times!

By that old wicket ne’er we meet

Where still we met of yore,

But I have found another sweet

Beside the salt sea-shore:

With sea-daisies her locks I wreathe,

With sea-grass bind her hands,

And salt and sharp’s the air we breathe

Beside the long sea-sands!

Mine old true love had eyes of blue,

And Willow! was her song;

Sea-green her eyes, my lady new,

And of the East her tongue.

And she that’s worsted in the strife,

A southland lass is she;

But she that’s won—the Neuk o’ Fife,

It is her ain countrie!

No more the old sweet words we call,

These kindly words of yore,—

“Over!” “Hard in!” “Leg-bye!” “No ball!”

Ah now we say “Two more;”

And of the “Like” and “Odd” we shout,

Till swains and maidens scoff;

“The fact is, Cricket’s been bowled out

By that eternal Golf!”