 | Collected poems |  |
587
FOR A VISITORS' BOOK
(TO THE LADY OF THE CASTLE)
“He who fears the trial,
Naught can hope to gain”:—
Shall I make denial
À la Châtelaine?
Naught can hope to gain”:—
Shall I make denial
À la Châtelaine?
Come then, Muse, and lend me
All that poets feign:
Let my verse commend me
À la Châtelaine!
All that poets feign:
Let my verse commend me
À la Châtelaine!
Time, that rarely lingers,—
Time, that churl ingrain,—
Kisses courtier fingers
À la Châtelaine;
Time, that churl ingrain,—
Kisses courtier fingers
À la Châtelaine;
Leads her by soft places
Free from stone and stain;
Spares his sterner traces
À la Châtelaine!
Free from stone and stain;
Spares his sterner traces
À la Châtelaine!
588
Ah! benign, caressing,
Still, O Time, remain;
Send thy chiefest blessing
À la Châtelaine!
Still, O Time, remain;
Send thy chiefest blessing
À la Châtelaine!
Make her sorest troubles
Light as summer rain;
Crosses be but bubbles
À la Châtelaine!
Light as summer rain;
Crosses be but bubbles
À la Châtelaine!
Neither mar nor mend her;
Save her toil and pain;
Time, be always tender
À la Châtelaine!
Save her toil and pain;
Time, be always tender
À la Châtelaine!
1908.
| Collected poems | |