 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
273
NOBILITY.
Hilda is a lofty lady,
Very proud is she—
I am but a simple herdsman
Dwelling by the sea.
Hilda hath a spacious palace,
Broad, and white and high;
Twenty good dogs guard the portal—
Never house had I.
Very proud is she—
I am but a simple herdsman
Dwelling by the sea.
Hilda hath a spacious palace,
Broad, and white and high;
Twenty good dogs guard the portal—
Never house had I.
Hilda hath a thousand meadows—
Boundless forest lands;
She hath men and maids for service—
I have but my hands.
The sweet summer's ripest roses,
Hilda's cheeks outvie—
Queens have paled to see her beauty—
But my beard have I.
Boundless forest lands;
She hath men and maids for service—
I have but my hands.
The sweet summer's ripest roses,
Hilda's cheeks outvie—
Queens have paled to see her beauty—
But my beard have I.
Hilda from her palace windows
Looketh down on me,
Keeping with my dove-brown oxen
By the silver sea.
When her dulcet harp she playeth,
Wild birds, singing nigh,
Cluster listening by her white hands—
But my reed have I.
Looketh down on me,
Keeping with my dove-brown oxen
By the silver sea.
When her dulcet harp she playeth,
Wild birds, singing nigh,
Cluster listening by her white hands—
But my reed have I.
I am but a simple herdsman,
With nor house nor lands;
She hath men and maids for service—
I have but my hands.
And yet what are all her crimsons
To my sunset sky—
With my free hands and my manhood
Hilda's peer am I.
With nor house nor lands;
She hath men and maids for service—
I have but my hands.
And yet what are all her crimsons
To my sunset sky—
With my free hands and my manhood
Hilda's peer am I.
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |