 | The White Pilgrim and Other Poems |  |
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MARIAN MAY.
Marian May was our hamlet's pride,
Worthy a queen to be,
For of all the maids in the country-side
Was none so fair as she.
Worthy a queen to be,
For of all the maids in the country-side
Was none so fair as she.
Her hair was like silk and her eyes like wine,
Liquid and dark and deep;
They sparkled and danced in the broad sunshine,
Or melted in rosy sleep.
Liquid and dark and deep;
They sparkled and danced in the broad sunshine,
Or melted in rosy sleep.
Lovers by scores for her white hand sighed,
Of high and of low degree,
And many came riding from far and wide,
Her sweethearts fain to be.
Of high and of low degree,
And many came riding from far and wide,
Her sweethearts fain to be.
The squire had plenty of golden store,
Such as for him was meet;
And he wished no better, and asked no more,
Than to lay it all at her feet.
Such as for him was meet;
And he wished no better, and asked no more,
Than to lay it all at her feet.
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But she put his gifts and his vows aside,
Laughing, and out spake she:
“I never was born for a rich man's bride,
So I cannot mate with thee.”
Laughing, and out spake she:
“I never was born for a rich man's bride,
So I cannot mate with thee.”
The parson he came, with his face so grave,
Gentle and sleek and prim,
And said the best way her soul to save
Was to take and marry him.
Gentle and sleek and prim,
And said the best way her soul to save
Was to take and marry him.
But she only opened her eyes full wide,
Wondering, and quoth she:
“Were there never a man in the world beside,
You'd be far too good for me!”
Wondering, and quoth she:
“Were there never a man in the world beside,
You'd be far too good for me!”
The colonel he swore a right round oath:
“Little one, be my wife!
I've scars and a pension enough for both,
If you'll share a soldier's life.”
“Little one, be my wife!
I've scars and a pension enough for both,
If you'll share a soldier's life.”
He vowed that he would not be denied,
Low on his bended knee;
But she tossed her head with a pretty pride,
Said: “I never will wed with thee!”
Low on his bended knee;
But she tossed her head with a pretty pride,
Said: “I never will wed with thee!”
Robin came back from the sea one day,
Out of the distant West;
And the child with whom he used to play,
A woman he clasped to his breast.
Out of the distant West;
And the child with whom he used to play,
A woman he clasped to his breast.
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She sobbed and kissed, and she laughed and cried:
Welcome, my love,” said she;
“For woe or for weal, and whate'er betide,
I will fare the world through with thee!”
Welcome, my love,” said she;
“For woe or for weal, and whate'er betide,
I will fare the world through with thee!”
| The White Pilgrim and Other Poems | |