The Maiden’s Lover. “ Woo me not with sighs and tears, “ Woo me not with vows,” she said, “ Tell me not of doubts and fears ; “ Deeds, not glowing words, I wed. “ Passion-pale I see thee stand ; “ Let Love speak, but not in sighs— “ Passion but unnerves the hand, “ Drains the heart to wet the eyes. “ Who would win me must have won “ Rule right royal o’er his heart ; “ Wholly true, from sun to sun, “ So he’ll love me not in part. “ Who would win me, must have found, “ For his deep and manly love, “ Other vent than empty sound— “ Vows protest but do not prove. “ Nobly as old legends tell, “ Rode the knight from land to land, “ Sin and wrong before him fell, “ Conquer’d by his stalwart hand. “ Glorious legends, were they true ! “ Make them true if me you’d win ; “ Win for me and thee a new “ Triumph over death and sin. “ If thou languish at my side, “ I shall mock thee in my scorn ; “ Up, be doing—so thy bride “ On I pass till Death’s dark morn. “ If around thy spirit gather “ Rust of sloth and lustful ease, “ Though I love thee, I would rather “ Thou wert dying on my knees.” Swift he turned—that flashing face Woke a new-born love to life ; Then he knew her, all her grace : Won her nobly for his Wife. C. U. D.