Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

To the River Yvette

O LOVELY river of Yvette!
  O darling river! like a bride,
Some dimpled, bashful, fair Lisette,
  Thou goest to wed the Orge’s tide.

Maincourt and lordly Dampierre
  See and salute thee on thy way,
And with a blessing and a prayer
  Ring the sweet bells of St. Forget.

The valley of Chevreuse in vain
  Would hold thee in its fond embrace;
Thou glidest from its arms again
  And hurriest on with swifter pace.

Thou wilt not stay; with restless feet
  Pursuing still thine onward flight,
Thou goest as one in haste to meet
  Her sole desire, her heart’s delight.

O lovely river of Yvette!
  O darling stream! on balanced wings
Thy wood-birds sang the chansonnette
  That here an unknown poet sings.

1. To the River Rhone
2. The Baron of St. Castine
3. Oliver Basselin
4. The Crew of the Long Serpent
5. Chaucer

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