Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/573

Thy silver locks, once auburn bright,
Are still more lovely in my sight
Than golden beams of orient light,
                            My Mary!

For could I view nor them nor thee,
What sight worth seeing could I see?
The sun would rise in vain for me,
                            My Mary!

Partakers of thy sad decline,
Thy hands their little force resign;
Yet, gently press'd, press gently mine,
                            My Mary!

Such feebleness of limbs thou prov'st,
That now at every step thou mov'st
Upheld by two; yet still thou lov'st,
                            My Mary!

And still to love, though press'd with ill,
In wintry age to feel no chill,
With me is to be lovely still,
                            My Mary!

But ah! by constant heed I know
How oft the sadness that I show
Transforms thy smiles to looks of woe,
                            My Mary!

And should my future lot be cast
With much resemblance of the past,
Thy worn-out heart will break at last—
                            My Mary!