146
MAUDE CLARE.
My lord was pale with inward strife,
And Nell was pale with pride;
My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare
Or ever he kissed the bride.
And Nell was pale with pride;
My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare
Or ever he kissed the bride.
"Lo, I have brought my gift, my lord,
Have brought my gift," she said:
"To bless the hearth, to bless the board,
To bless the marriage-bed."
Have brought my gift," she said:
"To bless the hearth, to bless the board,
To bless the marriage-bed."
Here's my half of the golden chain
You wore about your neck,
That day we waded ankle-deep
For lilies in the beck:
You wore about your neck,
That day we waded ankle-deep
For lilies in the beck:
"Here's my half of the faded leaves
We plucked from budding bough,
With feet amongst the lily leaves,—
The lilies are budding now."
We plucked from budding bough,
With feet amongst the lily leaves,—
The lilies are budding now."
He strove to match her scorn with scorn,
He faltered in his place:
"Lady," he said, —"Maude Clare," he said,—
"Maude Clare:"—and hid his face.
He faltered in his place:
"Lady," he said, —"Maude Clare," he said,—
"Maude Clare:"—and hid his face.
She turn'd to Nell: "My Lady Nell,
I have a gift for you;
Though, were it fruit, the bloom were gone,
Or, were it flowers, the dew.
I have a gift for you;
Though, were it fruit, the bloom were gone,
Or, were it flowers, the dew.
