The Romaunt of Margret (excerpts)

IX

“My lips do need thy breath,  

     My lips do need thy smile,  

 And my pallid eyne, that light in thine  

     Which met the stars erewhile:  

   Yet go with light and life  

     If that thou lovest one  

 In all the earth who loveth thee  

     As truly as the sun.  

                Margret, Margret.”

           XIV

“But better loveth he  

 Thy chaliced wine than thy chanted song,  

     And better both than thee,  

                  Margret, Margret.”  

           XVII

“But better loveth she  

 Thy golden comb than thy gathered flowers,  

     And better both than thee,  

              Margret, Margret.”

          XXII

“We brake no gold, a sign  

   Of stronger faith to be,  

 But I wear his last look in my soul,  

     Which said, I love but thee!”  

                   Margret, Margret.

         XXVI

A knight’s bloodhound and he  

     The funeral watch did keep;  

 With a thought o’ the chase he stroked its face  

     As it howled to see him weep.  

   A fair child kissed the dead,  

     But shrank before its cold.  

 And alone yet proudly in his hall  

     Did stand a baron of old.  

                  Margret, Margret.