 | The Shepherd's Garden |  |
97
WOOING AND WEDDING.
I leaned upon a meadow's gate,
And watched the waving grass,
When spring with warmer suns doth mate,
And into summer pass.
And watched the waving grass,
When spring with warmer suns doth mate,
And into summer pass.
And there I saw two lovers go
Along the spangled mead,
Whereby a singing stream did flow
Half hid in rush and reed.
Along the spangled mead,
Whereby a singing stream did flow
Half hid in rush and reed.
They whispered words of sweet consent;
Each held the other's hand:
Love breathed the wind that round them went,
And bloomed the flowery land.—
Each held the other's hand:
Love breathed the wind that round them went,
And bloomed the flowery land.—
At autumntide I passed that way
When they were man and wife;
But all their toys and loving play
Were turned to married strife.
When they were man and wife;
But all their toys and loving play
Were turned to married strife.
The thrush sang vainly on the hill,
The blackbird piped unheard:
Yet, as they wrangled loudly, still
She had the latest word.
The blackbird piped unheard:
Yet, as they wrangled loudly, still
She had the latest word.
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Then as those songsters frighted flew,
This rhyme rang in my head:
Fair maidens who are sweet to woo
May yet be sour to wed.
This rhyme rang in my head:
Fair maidens who are sweet to woo
May yet be sour to wed.
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