THE RINGLET.

`Your ringlets, your ringlets,

That look so golden-gay,

If you will give me one, but one,

To kiss it night and day,

Then never chilling touch of Time

Will turn it silver-gray;

And then shall I know it is all true gold

To flame and sparkle and stream as of old,

Till all the comets in heaven are cold,

And all her stars decay.’

`Then take it, love, and put it by;

This cannot change, nor yet can I.’

`My ringlet, my ringlet,

That art so golden-gay,

Now never chilling touch of Time

Can turn thee silver-gray;

And a lad may wink, and a girl may hint,

And a fool may say his say;

For my doubts and fears were all amiss,

And I swear henceforth by this and this,

That a doubt will only come for a kiss,

And a fear to be kiss'd away.’

`Then kiss it, love, and put it by:

If this can change, why so can I.’

O Ringlet, O Ringlet,

She blush'd a rosy red,

When Ringlet, O Ringlet,

She clipt you from her head,

And Ringlet, O Ringlet,

She gave you me, and said,

`Come, kiss it, love, and put it by

If this can change, why so can I.’

O fie, you golden nothing, fie

You golden lie.

O Ringlet, O Ringlet,

I count you much to blame,

For Ringlet, O Ringlet,

You put me much to shame,

So Ringlet, O Ringlet,

I doom you to the flame.

For what is this which now I learn,

Has given all my faith a turn?

Burn, you glossy heretic, burn,

Burn, burn.