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I
LADY of Sorrow! What though laughing blue, | |
| Thy sister, mock men’s anguish, and the sun | |
| Glare like a wrathful judge on many a one | |
| That longs for night his bitter shame to rue, | |
| Yet dost thou grant thy mercy of mist and dew | 5 |
| And cloud and calm ere angry day be done, | |
| Weaving over the vault the weary shun | |
| Thy veil of peace, with pity trembling through. | |
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| When all light loves and all brave hues are flown, | |
| When beaten hope falls from the reeling fight, | 10 |
| And life is lone upon her desolate way, | |
| And noon is fierce, and no men see aright, | |
| Then weary eyes turn unto thee, their own, | |
| Lady of Grief, the soul’s madonna, Grey. | |
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II
Yet not in sorrow only art thou fair, | 15 |
| For joy may know and love thee in the pall | |
| Of spray that slumbers on the waterfall, | |
| Or in low cottage-smoke in evening air | |
| Or in brave stone carven in glory rare, | |
| Or when the tender mists of Autumn fall | 20 |
| Dappling the mead with beauty, and the tall | |
| Stark dreaming oaks thine ancient livery wear. | |
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| Yet none hath known thy loveliness aright | |
| Save him who gazing in his lady’s eyes | |
| Sees dim lists tossing with plumes of many a knight | 25 |
| And woods where elfin waters gleam and glance, | |
| And all the vision and faith of old romance | |
| And the great dream of youth that never dies. | |
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