 | Griselda |  |
232
THE TWO WREATHS.
When the silver stars were throwing
Soft lines on the silver sea,
Like a shade in the twilight showing,
Came my life unto me.
Soft lines on the silver sea,
Like a shade in the twilight showing,
Came my life unto me.
Two garlands daintily bearing,
Unto me came my life,
When the daylight was disappearing,
Save that in thine eyes, dear wife.
Unto me came my life,
When the daylight was disappearing,
Save that in thine eyes, dear wife.
Glittered her cymar and kirtle,
Her garlands glimmered and shone;
One twined with the laurel and myrtle,
And one with the rose alone.
Her garlands glimmered and shone;
One twined with the laurel and myrtle,
And one with the rose alone.
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Which crown, she said, shall I leave thee,
The green or the crimson wreath?
Of the chaplets thy fortune weaves thee,
Choose one to deck thee till death.
The green or the crimson wreath?
Of the chaplets thy fortune weaves thee,
Choose one to deck thee till death.
Love comes if the rose-crown rings thee,—
Love endless and ever the same;
And the bright leaf of laurel brings thee
The minstrel's favour and fame.
Love endless and ever the same;
And the bright leaf of laurel brings thee
The minstrel's favour and fame.
But the rose hath an angry briar,
That woundeth wherever 'tis worn,
And, with laurel to lift thee higher,
There are poisonous berries of scorn.
That woundeth wherever 'tis worn,
And, with laurel to lift thee higher,
There are poisonous berries of scorn.
In the silence solemnly speaking,
In the darkness easy to see,
Answer to asking seeking,
Waited my life by me.
In the darkness easy to see,
Answer to asking seeking,
Waited my life by me.
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Then, with ready fingers upstarted
Beside her, mine own wise wife,
The leaves from the berries parted,
And the thorn from the rose of life.
Beside her, mine own wise wife,
The leaves from the berries parted,
And the thorn from the rose of life.
And twined them, with gentle laughter,
In a new and unharmful wreath:
And the roses and laurels hereafter
Shall crown me for life and death.
In a new and unharmful wreath:
And the roses and laurels hereafter
Shall crown me for life and death.
| Griselda | |