The lighthouse warns the wise, but these Not only sail the stormy seas; Towards the light the foolish steer And, drowning, read its meaning, dear.
And, if the lamp by chance allure Some foolish ship to death, be sure The lamp will to itself protest: "His be the blame! I did my best!"
Tired of work? Then drop away From the land of cheerful day! Pen the muse, and drive the pen If you'd stay with living men.
Fancy fails? Then pluck from those Gardens where her blossom blows; Trim the buds and wire them well, And your bouquet's sure to sell.
Write, write, write! Produce, produce! Write for sale, and not for use. This is a commercial age! Write! and fill your ledger page.
If your soul should droop and die, Bury it with undimmed eye. Never mind what memory says-- Soul's a thing that never pays!
Let me go! I cannot be All you think me, pure and true: Those brave jewel-names crown you, They were trampled down by me.
Horrid ghosts rise up between You and me; I dare not pass! What might be is dead; what was Is its poison, O my Queen!
I should wither up your life, Blacken, blight its maiden flower; You would live to curse the hour When you made yourself my wife.
Yet, your hand held out, your eyes Pleading, longing, brimmed with tears ... I have lived in hell for years: Do not show me Paradise.
Lest I answer: "Take me, then! Take me, save me if you can, Worse than any other man, Loving more than other men."
The castle had been held in siege, While thrice three weeks went past, And still the foe no vantage gained And still our men stood fast.
We held the castle for our king Against our foes and his; Stout was our heart, as man's must be In such brave cause as this.
But Sir Hugh walked the castle wall, And oh! his heart was sore, For the foe held fast the only son His dead wife ever bore.
The castle gates were firm and fast, Strong was the castle wall, Yet bore Sir Hugh an aching heart For the thing that might befal.
He looked out to the pearly east, Ere day began to break: "God save my boy till evensong," He said, "for Mary's sake!"
He looked out on the western sky When the sun sank, blood-red: "God keep my son till morning light For His son's sake," he said.
And morn and eve, and noon and night, His heart one prayer did make: "God keep my boy, my little one, For his dear dead mother's sake!"
