The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment,
are diamonds and pearls.
[Fr., Apres read more

The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment,
are diamonds and pearls.
[Fr., Apres l'esprit de discernement, ce qu'il y a au monde de
plus rare, ce sont les diamants et les perles.]

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls;
Who, when he had read more

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls;
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold
all that he had, and bought it.

I love the season well
When forest glades are teeming with bright forms,
Nor dark and many-folded read more

I love the season well
When forest glades are teeming with bright forms,
Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell
The coming of storms.

Wear a Sardonyx or for thee
No conjugal felicity.
The August-born without this stone
read more

Wear a Sardonyx or for thee
No conjugal felicity.
The August-born without this stone
'Tis said must live unloved and lone.

Sweet April-time--O cruel April-time!
Year after year returning, with a brow
Of promise, and red lips with read more

Sweet April-time--O cruel April-time!
Year after year returning, with a brow
Of promise, and red lips with longing paled,
And backward-hidden hands that clutch the joys
Of vanished springs, like flowers.

Take that life, beseech you,
Which I so often owe; but your ring first,
And here the read more

Take that life, beseech you,
Which I so often owe; but your ring first,
And here the bracelet of the truest princess
That ever swore her faith.

The Lord says, "As surely as I live, your children will be like jewels. You will be as proud of read more

The Lord says, "As surely as I live, your children will be like jewels. You will be as proud of them as a bride is of her jewels."

From you have I been absent in the spring,
When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim,
read more

From you have I been absent in the spring,
When proud-pied April, dressed in all his trim,
Hath put a spirit of youth in everything,
That heavy Saturn laughed and leapt with him;
Yet nor the lays of birds, not the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odor and in hue,
Could make me any summer's story tell,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
Yet seemed it winter still, and you away,
As with your shadow I with these did play.

By her who in this month is born,
No gems save Garnets should be worn;
They will read more

By her who in this month is born,
No gems save Garnets should be worn;
They will insure her constancy,
True friendship and fidelity.