“ For Better, for Worse.”
Quoth he, “ Sweetheart, thou art young and fair,1
And thy story has just begun ;2
But I am as old3
As a tale that’s told,4
And the days of my youth are done.”5
O’er ruins olden the clinging moss6
Doth a mantle of velvet spread :7
Shall the climbing flower8
Be more to the tower9
Than I to my Love ? ” she said.10
Quoth he, “ Sweetheart, thou hast lands and gold,11
And thou knowest not want nor woe ;12
As a beggar poor13
I stand at thy door,14
And I only can love thee so.”15
“ Through leafless forests the sunbeams creep,16
All the wealth of their gold to shed ;17
And are they more fair18
To the woodland bare19
Than I to my Love ? ” she said.20
Quoth he, “ Sweetheart, thou art good and kind,21
And wouldst never the lowest spurn ;22
But the storm of life23
With its toil and strife24
Has rendered me harsh and stern.”25
The brooklet murmurs its sweetest lays26
As it makes for the rocks ahead :27
Shall the streamlet’s song28
Be more brave and strong29
Than I for my Love ? ” she said.30
Quoth he, “ Sweetheart, thou art blithe and gay,31
And thou never hast known a care ;32
But my face is worn33
And my heart is torn34
With the sorrow I’ve had to bear.”35
“ The stars ne’er spangle the sapphire sky36
Till the brightness of day has fled :37
Shall the pale starlight38
Be truer to night39
Than I to my Love ? ” she said.40
Quoth he, “ Sweetheart, who art young and fair,41
Will thy wonderful love to me42
Through sorrow or shame43
Be always the same ? ”44
“ Nay, it rather will grow,” said she.45
Again he cried, “ Will it last, Sweetheart,46
Till thy lover lies cold and dead,47
And thy latest breath48
Has been hushed in death ? ”49
“ Aye, longer than that,” she said.50