Democratic messenger., 1894-02-17
ST. VALENTINE.

Hail to thy natal morn returned,
Old Bishop Valentine
Archiiamen of the gods art thou,
Immortal and divine;
Invoked AMI blest with llymens name.
And worshiPped at his shrine.
a Thousand little Loves attend
Where e'cr thy Footsteps stray,
Aud there. with breath and song. rervad
The atmosphere and day.
And with transporting grace ami charm
Their freaks and gambols play.
Blithe Cupids all thy chniristcrS
And thy precentors are,
Aud arrow-armed thou movest out
To wage unequal war.
For not heart doth feel thy dart
But doth To- thee unbar.
Sweet messages of love expressed
In glowing words. yelepcd
As valentines, cross aud rccroSS,
Cupid is bnsy kept;
And many hearts ARE glad TODAY.
Many for JOY have wept.
Thou doth decree from mystic vows.
mus reads the rubrlcs sign,
'On whom the maiden first doth snkc.
This day of love divine.
Him shall her heart give puicrrnce,
Him call her Valentine.
And so the laddie climbs the elm.
That droops upon the caves
Meath which his unsuspcctin. love
Some fairy fancy weayes,
And rs she opcs the window wide
His rapturuus glance receives.
And now upon the village green
The comelv lass doth WOO.
He breathed his love in burning words
She vows It's strange. It's men.
But sweet withal. and il n taste
Bring such delights To view.
Robin. my lad. I'll deeper drink,
And love little too.
\ rose she wore. ly il he sw"rc
To love her cvcrmurc.
And promised she To- faithful hc.
Him ever To- adore;
And as the rose the secret knows,
Said he, its faith ,lo We implorc.'
What matter il hc pidycd at love
And soon forgot the vow:
What matter if his lips hare prcst
Another maiden's brow:
And what il one heart should hc CAV, ~
And 0Re hc hrcakin. now:
The lovely rose by which they >w"re
Hath fallen To- decay:
Are Loves and Friendships like the rose.
And lasting hut day?
And must we love aud bo beloved.
Then turned. alas, away:
Some hearts there lie that burn not low,
Their youth has had It's dream.
Perhaps awokc "A few love chords.
Invoked some tender theme.
But no divine emotion thrilled.
Or ever ruled therein supreme.
The courtly Knight doth walk beside
His Lady all alone.
She hath not spoken any word.
But mnch of feeling shown;
And love hath myriad signs whereby
His presence Ia make known.
Thus spake the Knight Lovely aud bri.t
Are Heavens stars above.
But brighter far than moon ar star
Art thou to me, NV love,
List to my plea and wed with me.
When next shall mate the dove"
The Lady spakc: Fear to take
Such holy vows with thee.
Since thou dost raise thy v"ice in prai>
OF beauty not ~. me-
True worth unknown. with beauty howu
Man constant will not bc.
Answered the Knight "lIoly and brigh
Is Heavens galaxy;
Behold. last night when from its heigl
Down dropped n star DER me,
II brought to me this thought of thee.
Too pure IF edrh 10 b.
The Lady said with thee I'll we'd
Aud he thy Valentine,
As round the pine the vine doth twine
So to thee incline,
Onc heart divine tor thou art mine.
As have Ion. been thine.
Thus WAS Loves language softly >pnkcr
And thus the intercourse
Oi souls coniunctive, is II mean.
\ strong impelling force.
Wherein each doth lis substance draw
As from common sorcc
Then welcome bc the natal morn.
I.r. festive loyS lc spread.
Let cvcrV heart f"r true loves SRhC
With loving eyes h~ rcnd.
For bishop Nalcutinc doth w"n,
Aud roval livmcn we'd !