Classic Poem

O WOE to thee, oenone! stricken blind
And poisoned by a darkness and a pain,
O, woe to thee, oenone! who couldst find
No love when love lay dying, doubly slain
Slain thus by thee, oenone!
O, what stain,
Of red like this on hands of love was seen
Ever before or since, since love has been!
O, woe to thee, oenone! Hadst thou said,
" Sweet love, lost love, I know now why I live
And could not die, the days I wished me dead;
O love, all strength of life and joy I give
Thee back! Ah me, that I have dared to strive
With fates that bore me to this one sure bliss,
Thou couldst not rob me, O lost love, of this? " —

Hadst thou said this, oenone, though he went
Bounding with life, thy life, and left thee there
Dying and glad, such sudden pain had rent
His heart, that even beating in the fair
White arms of Helen, hid in her sweet hair,
It had made always moan, in strange unrest,
" oenone's love was greater love, was best. "