| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Lord Vyet | | By Arthur Christopher Benson (1862–1925) |
| | | WHAT, must my lord be gone? | |
| Command his horse, and call | |
| The servants, one and all. | |
| ‘Nay, nay, I go alone.’ | |
| |
| My Lord, I shall unfold | 5 |
| Thy cloak of sables rare | |
| To shield thee from the air: | |
| ‘Nay, nay, I must be cold.’ | |
| |
| At least thy leech I’ll tell | |
| Some drowsy draught to make, | 10 |
| Less thou should toss awake. | |
| ‘Nay, nay, I shall sleep well.’ | |
| |
| My lady keeps her bower:— | |
| I hear the lute delight | |
| The dark and frozen night. | 15 |
| High up within the tower. | |
| |
| Wilt thou that she descend? | |
| Thy son is in the hall, | |
| Tossing his golden ball, | |
| Shall he my lord attend? | 20 |
| |
| ‘Nay, sirs, unbar the door, | |
| The broken lute shall fall; | |
| My son will leave his ball | |
| To tarnish on the floor.’ | |
| |
| Yon bell to triumph rings! | 25 |
| To greet thee, monarchs wait | |
| Beside their palace gate. | |
| ‘Yes, I shall sleep with kings.’ | |
| |
| My lord will soon alight | |
| With some rich prince, his friend, | 30 |
| Who shall his ease attend. | |
| ‘I shall lodge low to-night.’ | |
| |
| My lord hath lodging nigh? | |
| ‘Yes, yes, I go not far,— | |
| And yet the furthest star | 35 |
| Is not so far as I.’ | | | | |
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