My Lyrical Life :: :: University of Virginia Library

While Titans war with social Jove,
My own sweet Wife and I,
We make Elysium in our love,
And let the world go by!
O never hearts beat half so light
With crownèd Queen or King!
O never world was half so bright
As is our fairy-ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.

Our world of empire is not large,
But priceless wealth it holds;
A little heaven links marge to marge,
But what rich realms it folds!
And clasping all from outer strife
Sits Love with folded wing,
A-brood o'er dearer life-in-life,
Within our fairy ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.

196

Thou leanest thy true heart on mine,
And bravely bearest up!
Aye mingling Love's most precious wine
In Life's most bitter cup!
And evermore the circling hours
New gifts of glory bring;
We live and love like happy flowers,
All in our fairy-ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.

We've known a many sorrows, Sweet!
We've wept a many tears,
And often trod with trembling feet
Our pilgrimage of years.
But when our sky grew dark and wild,
All closelier did we cling:
Clouds broke to beauty as you smiled,
Peace crowned our fairy-ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.

Away, you foes of heart and home;
Away, O Hate, and Strife!
Hence, revellers, reeling drunken from
Your feast of human life!
Heaven shield our little Goshen round,
From ills that with them spring,
And never be their footprints found
Within our fairy-ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.

But, come ye who the Truth dare own,
Or work in Love's dear name;

197

Come all who wear the Mystic's crown,
Or Martyr's robe of flame!
Sweet souls a heartless world may doom
Like Birds made blind to sing!
For such we'll aye make welcome room
Within our fairy-ring,
Dear love!
Our hallowed fairy-ring.