The Maiden’s Lover.
“ Woo me not with sighs and tears,1
“ Woo me not with vows,” she said,2
“ Tell me not of doubts and fears ;3
“ Deeds, not glowing words, I wed.4
“ Passion-pale I see thee stand ;5
“ Let Love speak, but not in sighs—6
“ Passion but unnerves the hand,7
“ Drains the heart to wet the eyes.8
“ Who would win me must have won9
“ Rule right royal o’er his heart ;10
“ Wholly true, from sun to sun,11
“ So he’ll love me not in part.12
“ Who would win me, must have found,13
“ For his deep and manly love,14
“ Other vent than empty sound—15
“ Vows protest but do not prove.16
“ Nobly as old legends tell,17
“ Rode the knight from land to land,18
“ Sin and wrong before him fell,19
“ Conquer’d by his stalwart hand.20
“ Glorious legends, were they true !21
“ Make them true if me you’d win ;22
“ Win for me and thee a new23
“ Triumph over death and sin.24
“ If thou languish at my side,25
“ I shall mock thee in my scorn ;26
“ Up, be doing—so thy bride27
“ On I pass till Death’s dark morn.28
“ If around thy spirit gather29
“ Rust of sloth and lustful ease,30
“ Though I love thee, I would rather31
“ Thou wert dying on my knees.”32
Swift he turned—that flashing face33
Woke a new-born love to life ;34
Then he knew her, all her grace :35
Won her nobly for his Wife.36