 | The Poems of A. C. Benson |  |
234
LORD VYET
What, must my lord be gone?
Command his horse, and call
The servants, one and all.
“Nay, nay, I go alone.”
Command his horse, and call
The servants, one and all.
“Nay, nay, I go alone.”
My Lord, I shall unfold
Thy cloak of sables rare
To shield thee from the air:
“Nay, nay, I must be cold.”
Thy cloak of sables rare
To shield thee from the air:
“Nay, nay, I must be cold.”
At least thy leech I'll tell
Some drowsy draught to make,
Lest thou should toss awake.
“Nay, nay, I shall sleep well.”
Some drowsy draught to make,
Lest thou should toss awake.
“Nay, nay, I shall sleep well.”
My lady keeps her bower:—
I hear the lute delight
The dark and frozen night,
High up within the tower.
I hear the lute delight
The dark and frozen night,
High up within the tower.
Wilt thou that she descend?
Thy son is in the hall,
Tossing his golden ball,
Shall he my lord attend?
Thy son is in the hall,
Tossing his golden ball,
Shall he my lord attend?
235
“Nay, sirs, unbar the door,
The broken lute shall fall;
My son will leave his ball
To tarnish on the floor.”
The broken lute shall fall;
My son will leave his ball
To tarnish on the floor.”
Yon bell to triumph rings!
To greet thee, monarchs wait
Beside their palace gate.
“Yes, I shall sleep with kings.”
To greet thee, monarchs wait
Beside their palace gate.
“Yes, I shall sleep with kings.”
My lord will soon alight
With some rich prince, his friend,
Who shall his ease attend.
“I shall lodge low to-night.”
With some rich prince, his friend,
Who shall his ease attend.
“I shall lodge low to-night.”
My lord hath lodging nigh?
“Yes, yes, I go not far,—
And yet the furthest star
Is not so far as I.”
“Yes, yes, I go not far,—
And yet the furthest star
Is not so far as I.”
| The Poems of A. C. Benson | |