Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt:... still I see your soft white hand Hovering warm o'er Queen and Knight. Brave Pawns in valiant battle stand; The double Castles guard the wings; The Bishop, bent on distant things, Moves, sidling, through the fight. Our fingers touch; our glances meet, And falter; falls your golden hair Against my cheek; your bosom sweet Is heaving. Down the field, your Queen Rides slow, her soldiery all between. And checks me unaware. Ah me! the little battle's done: Disperst is all its chivalry. Full many a move, since then, have wt 'Mid life's perplexing checkers made, And many a game with Fortune played: THE ROYAL GUEST. What is it we have won? This, this at least--if this alone: That never, never, nevermore, As in those old still nights of yore, (Ere we were grown so sadly wise,) Can you and I shut out the skies, Shut out the world, and wintry weather, And eyes exchanging warmth with eyes, Play chess, as then we played together! Robert Bulweu Lytton. THE ROYAL GUEST. They tell me I am shrewd with other men; With thee I'm slow, and difficult of speech. With others I may guide the car of talk; Thou wing'st it oft to realms beyond my reach. If other guests should come, I'd deck my hair, And choose my newest garment from the shelf; When thou art hidden, I would clothe my heart With holiest purpose, as for God himself. For them I while the hours with tale or song, Or web of fancy, fringed with careless rhyme; But how to find a fitting lay for thee, Who hast the harmonies of every time? ALL'S WELL. O friend beloved! I sit apart and dumb. Sometimes in sorrow, oft in joy divine; My lip will falter, but my prisoned heart Springs forth to measure its faint pulse with thine. Thou art to me most like a royal guest, Whose travels bring him to some lowly roof Where simple rustics spr...