A Valediction.
God be with thee, my beloved,—God be with thee!
Else alone thou goest forth,
Thy face unto the north.—
Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee,
Looking equal in one snow!
While I who try to reach thee,
Vainly follow, vainly follow,
With the farewell and the hollo,
And cannot reach thee so.
Alas! I can but teach thee—
God be with thee, my beloved,—God be with thee!
Else alone thou goest forth,
Thy face unto the north.—
Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee,
Looking equal in one snow!
While I who try to reach thee,
Vainly follow, vainly follow,
With the farewell and the hollo,
And cannot reach thee so.
Alas! I can but teach thee—
God be with thee, my beloved,—God be with thee!
Can I teach thee, my beloved,—ca n I teach thee?
If I said, Go left or right,
The counsel would be light,—
The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee!
My right would show like left;
My raising would depress thee,—
My choice of light would blind thee,—
Of way, would leave behind thee,—
Of end, would leave bereft!
Alas! I can but bless thee—
May God teach thee, my beloved,—may God teach thee!
If I said, Go left or right,
The counsel would be light,—
The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee!
My right would show like left;
My raising would depress thee,—
My choice of light would blind thee,—
Of way, would leave behind thee,—
Of end, would leave bereft!
Alas! I can but bless thee—
May God teach thee, my beloved,—may God teach thee!
Can I bless thee, my beloved,—can I bless thee?
What blessing word can I,
From mine own tears, keep dry?
What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee?
What blessing word can I,
From mine own tears, keep dry?
What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee?
