LETTICE.
173
And thus we, struck with longing joy, adore,
And, satisfied, wait mute without the door,
Until the gracious Gardener maketh sign,
"Enter in peace. All this is mine—and thine."
And, satisfied, wait mute without the door,
Until the gracious Gardener maketh sign,
"Enter in peace. All this is mine—and thine."
LETTICE.
SAID to Lettice, our sister Lettice,While drooped and glistened her eye-lash brown,
"Your man's a poor man, a cold and dour man,
There 's many a better about our town."
She smiled securely—"He loves me purely:
A true heart 's safe, both in smile or frown;
And nothing harms me while his love warms me,
Whether the world go up or down."
"He comes of strangers, and they are rangers,
And ill to trust, girl, when out of sight:
Fremd folk may blame ye, and e'en defame ye,—
A gown oft handled looks seldom white."
She raised serenely her eyelids queenly,—
"My innocence is my whitest gown;
No harsh tongue grieves me while he believes me,
Whether the world go up or down."
And ill to trust, girl, when out of sight:
Fremd folk may blame ye, and e'en defame ye,—
A gown oft handled looks seldom white."
She raised serenely her eyelids queenly,—
"My innocence is my whitest gown;
No harsh tongue grieves me while he believes me,
Whether the world go up or down."
