With a Water-lily

See, dear, what thy lover brings;'Tis the flower with the white wings.Buoyed upon the quiet streamIn the spring it lay adream.

Homelike to bestow this guest,Lodge it, dear one, in thy breast;There its leaves the secret keepOf a wave both still and deep.

Child, beware the tarn-fed stream;Danger, danger, there to dream!Though the sprite pretends to sleep,And above the lilies peep.

Child, thy bosom is the stream;Danger, danger, there to dream!Though above the lilies peep,And the sprite pretends to sleep.