1.
The brave deserve the lovely - every woman may be won.
Charles Godfrey Leland
2.
To Paradise, the Arabs say, Satan could never find the way Until the peacock led him in.
Charles Godfrey Leland
3.
Sweet music! sacred tongue of God.
Charles Godfrey Leland
4.
The Lord of Learning who upraised mankind from being silent brutes to singing men.
Charles Godfrey Leland
5.
But, as old Swedish legends say, Of all the birds upon that day, The swallow felt the deepest grief, And longed to give her Lord relief, And chirped when any near would come. Hugswala swala swal honom! Meaning, as they who tell it deem, Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him!
Charles Godfrey Leland
6.
Among the flowers no perfume is like mine; That which is best in me comes from within. So those in this world who would rise and shine Should seek internal excellence to win. And though 'tis true that falsehood and despair Meet in my name, yet bear it still in mind That where they meet they perish. All is fair When they are gone and nought remains behind.
Charles Godfrey Leland
7.
Up rose the wild old winter-king, And shook his beard of snow; "I hear the first young hard-bell ring, 'Tis time for me to go! Northward o'er the icy rocks, Northward o'er the sea, My daughter comes with sunny locks: This land's too warm for me!
Charles Godfrey Leland
8.
If all the world must see the world
As the world the world hath seen,
Then it were better for the world
That the world have never been.
Charles Godfrey Leland
9.
When in God thou believest, near God thou wilt certainly be.
Charles Godfrey Leland
10.
Life will be lengthened while growing, for
Thought is the measure of life.
Charles Godfrey Leland
11.
Thought is the measure of life.
Charles Godfrey Leland
12.
Love leads to present rapture,-then to pain;
But all through Love in time is healed again.
Charles Godfrey Leland
13.
Time fleeth on,
Youth soon is gone,
Naught earthly may abide;
Life seemeth fast,
But may not last--
It runs as runs the time.
Charles Godfrey Leland
14.
What is a kiss? Alacke! at worst,
A single Dropp to quenche a Thirst,
Tho' oft it prooves, in happie Hour,
The first swete Dropp of our long Showre.
Charles Godfrey Leland
15.
Jas in the Arab language is despair, And Min the darkest meaning of a lie. Thus cried the Jessamine among the flowers, How justly doth a lie Draw on its head despair! Among the fragrant spirits of the bowers The boldest and the strongest still was I. Although so fair, Therefore from Heaven A stronger perfume unto me was given Than any blossom of the summer hours.
Charles Godfrey Leland