THE WISHING-SPRING

I knelt beside the fairy spring,

Among the tasseled weeds;

Far off, with dreamy murmuring,

The wind piped through the reeds.

Once, twice, the brimming cup I raised

With trembling finger-tips,

And in its limpid crystal gazed,

Nor laid it to my lips.

Ah me! the eager heart-desires,

So thronging swift they came,

My spirit surged like wind-swept fires,

I knew not which to name.

— Then all at once, I quickly quaffed

The shining drops; but lo,

The wish with that enchanted draught

No man must ever know!