TO ONE WHO PLEADED FOR CANDOUR IN LOVE.

By Edith Nesbit

HERE is the dim enchanted wood

Your face, a mystery divine,

But half revealed, half understood,

Appears the counterpart of mine.

Beyond the wood the daylight lies;

Cruel and hard, it lies in wait

To steal the magic from your eyes

And from your lips the thrill of fate.

Ah, stay with me a little while

Here, where the magic shadows rest,

Where all my world is in your smile

And all my heaven on your breast.

Ah no!— cling close, what need to move,

What need to advance or explore?

We came here blindly, led by love,

Who will not lead us any more.

Thank God that here we two have stood,

Thank God this shade was ours to win;

Time with his axe has marked our wood

And he will let the daylight in.