 | Voices and visions |  |
[III I dreamed that Love came knocking]
I dreamed that Love came knocking
At your door one winter night,
While the spectre trees were rocking
In a blast of savage blight.
‘Oh, I perish!’ poor Love pleaded;
‘Ope the door, for Love's dear sake.’
But although you heard and heeded,
Still no answer would you make!
Not one word of sweet replying
Would your haughty lips have said,
Even if Love had lain there dying,
Even if Love had lain there dead!
At your door one winter night,
While the spectre trees were rocking
In a blast of savage blight.
‘Oh, I perish!’ poor Love pleaded;
‘Ope the door, for Love's dear sake.’
But although you heard and heeded,
Still no answer would you make!
16
Would your haughty lips have said,
Even if Love had lain there dying,
Even if Love had lain there dead!
Then I dreamed that Love o'er-ruled you;
For in tenderest voice he cried,
‘Nay, dear lady, I sadly fooled you,
Since I am not Love, but Pride.’
And you straightway oped your portals
With a merry and welcome nod,
To that wiliest of immortals,
To that masquerading god.
Ah, you oped your portals lightly,
Not for Love's but Pride's dear sake;
Yet, O lady, if I dreamed rightly,
Love soon taught you your mistake!
For in tenderest voice he cried,
‘Nay, dear lady, I sadly fooled you,
Since I am not Love, but Pride.’
And you straightway oped your portals
With a merry and welcome nod,
To that wiliest of immortals,
To that masquerading god.
Ah, you oped your portals lightly,
Not for Love's but Pride's dear sake;
Yet, O lady, if I dreamed rightly,
Love soon taught you your mistake!
| Voices and visions | |