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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse  »  Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864)

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

The Warrior to His Dead Bride

Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864)

IF in the fight my arm was strong

And forced my foes to yield,

If conquering and unhurt I come

Back from the battle-field—

It is because thy prayers have been

My safeguard and my shield.

Thy heart, my love, still beats in Heaven

With the same love divine

That made thee stoop to such a soul,

So hard, so stern, as mine—

My eyes have learnt to weep, Beloved,

Since last they look’d on thine.

I hear thee murmur words of peace,

Thro’ the dim midnight air;

And a calm falls from the angel stars

And soothes my great despair—

The heavens themselves look brighter, Love,

Since thy sweet soul is there.