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234
TWO STORIES OF ONE FATE
1
Take him,—love him, Sister!—love him dearly for my sake.
If your love should ever fail him, O be sure my heart would break.
It is not breaking now,—believe me! though my tears rain down so fast:
You shall soon have sunshine through them of a joy that aye will last.
If your love should ever fail him, O be sure my heart would break.
It is not breaking now,—believe me! though my tears rain down so fast:
You shall soon have sunshine through them of a joy that aye will last.
Yes, indeed I love him dearly. Could I help it? Sister mine!
Who could refuse to love him, so lovely, so divine?
I will not blush for saying—I did yearn for love of him.
Is my cheek still burning? dear one! But my eyes no more are dim.
Who could refuse to love him, so lovely, so divine?
I will not blush for saying—I did yearn for love of him.
Is my cheek still burning? dear one! But my eyes no more are dim.
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I do, do love him. Never I deny that holy love.
I love him more than life and joy, all selfish hope above.
That I love him is my reason, dear! for laying on your heart
My Darling,—since I found his life was of your life a part.
I love him more than life and joy, all selfish hope above.
That I love him is my reason, dear! for laying on your heart
My Darling,—since I found his life was of your life a part.
You will love him as I love him; with a love too past my might,—
For I know through all his silentness your love is his delight.
Love's eyes are very keen, Love's heart has little need of words:
And I can read your heart and his and all their sweet accords.
For I know through all his silentness your love is his delight.
Love's eyes are very keen, Love's heart has little need of words:
And I can read your heart and his and all their sweet accords.
Love him, love him dearly, Sister! life hath not too many days.
Why these tears? And I am smiling. For my glad heart fills with praise
To God, who gives us love's best blessing,—to assure the Loved One's bliss—
I with my soul's devotedness, and thou—with thy life-kiss.
Why these tears? And I am smiling. For my glad heart fills with praise
To God, who gives us love's best blessing,—to assure the Loved One's bliss—
I with my soul's devotedness, and thou—with thy life-kiss.
236
2
Thy hand, my friend! I claim again the brother's trusting hand:
Though if you dared to call her yours I'd slay you where you stand.
She is not yours, nor mine; but we are wholly, humbly hers,
Her knights, her lieges, her true friends, her trusty servitors.
Though if you dared to call her yours I'd slay you where you stand.
She is not yours, nor mine; but we are wholly, humbly hers,
Her knights, her lieges, her true friends, her trusty servitors.
Thou canst not love her more than I. Is this the only right,
For life and death I grapple thee, and mock thy utmost might.
Take all the odds of honour that my love of thee e'er gave,
I'd overstride thee, wast thou king and I Love's meanest slave.
For life and death I grapple thee, and mock thy utmost might.
Take all the odds of honour that my love of thee e'er gave,
I'd overstride thee, wast thou king and I Love's meanest slave.
Thou canst not love her more than I. It is no claim at all.
Her own will is our only law, whatever may befall.
Till then upon this worthy field against thee I contend—
Hath she spoken so? God help me! I will not be false, my friend!
Her own will is our only law, whatever may befall.
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Hath she spoken so? God help me! I will not be false, my friend!
And look that thou be loyal, for I love her none the less;
See that thy very nobleness her every hope may bless.
Shouldst thou fail her in one tittle—Grasp me firmly! Words are vain.
She loves thee: who could fail upon the very heart of gain?
See that thy very nobleness her every hope may bless.
Shouldst thou fail her in one tittle—Grasp me firmly! Words are vain.
She loves thee: who could fail upon the very heart of gain?
And thou wilt let me love her still, in duteous, lowly guise:
Watching before thy happy gate, lest evil may surprize:
Asking no wages but thy trust, and one approving glance
From eyes—dear eyes!—Thy hand, great friend! I bless thy happy chance.
Watching before thy happy gate, lest evil may surprize:
Asking no wages but thy trust, and one approving glance
From eyes—dear eyes!—Thy hand, great friend! I bless thy happy chance.
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