In My Lady's Praise Being Poems, Old and New: Written to the Honour of Fanny, Lady Arnold and Now Collected for her Memory: By Sir Edwin Arnold |
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[Deign, Sweetheart! deign to take what true love sends] |
 | In My Lady's Praise |  |
13
[Deign, Sweetheart! deign to take what true love sends]
Deign, Sweetheart! deign to take what true love sends,
Its daily gift set fair in gentle song;
Where—if verse fail—heart's faith would make amends,
So earnest, speech, at best, must do it wrong.
Its daily gift set fair in gentle song;
Where—if verse fail—heart's faith would make amends,
So earnest, speech, at best, must do it wrong.
All lonely as I sit, a fancy raised
Lightens the heavy hour's dull incompleteness:—
“Why is she sweet and good save to be praised,
Or I a singer save to praise her sweetness?”
Lightens the heavy hour's dull incompleteness:—
“Why is she sweet and good save to be praised,
Or I a singer save to praise her sweetness?”
Some whisper from the Silence! Who can say?
Poets, before, have found new music so!
At least, hereby, what I thought, day by day,
Your eyes will read, and tender breast will know.
Poets, before, have found new music so!
At least, hereby, what I thought, day by day,
Your eyes will read, and tender breast will know.
14
And all spheres, Dear! are servants unto Love;
And all things in the world obey a Poet;
And once—they say—the letter Yod did move,
And cried aloud to Heav'n—Mishna doth show it!
And all things in the world obey a Poet;
And once—they say—the letter Yod did move,
And cried aloud to Heav'n—Mishna doth show it!
Therefore I bid these Letters—each of them—
Be messengers of splendour to you now;
Each minion casting at your feet some gem
Worthy your white neck, or your arm, or brow.
Be messengers of splendour to you now;
Each minion casting at your feet some gem
Worthy your white neck, or your arm, or brow.
If one should falter—if one fail herein—
Denounce the traitor! It shall surely bring
Ill to that slave, as when an Arab Djin
Vexed Suleiman, or mocked Aladdin's ring!
Denounce the traitor! It shall surely bring
Ill to that slave, as when an Arab Djin
Vexed Suleiman, or mocked Aladdin's ring!
| In My Lady's Praise | |