I .

She hung the cage at the window:
— If he goes by, — she said,
— He will hear my robin singing,
And when he lifts his head,
I shall be sitting here to sew,
And he will bow to me, I know. —

The robin sang a love-sweet song,
The young man raised his head;
The maiden turned away and blushed:
— I am a fool! — she said,
And went on broidering in silk
A pink-eyed rabbit, white as milk.

II .

The young man loitered slowly
By the house three times that day;
She took her bird from the window:
— He need not look this way. —
She sat at her piano long,
And sighed, and played a death-sad song.

But when the day was done, she said,
— I wish that he would come!
Remember, Mary, if he calls
To-night — I'm not at home. —
So when he rang, she went — the elf! —
She went and let him in herself.

III .

They sang full long together
Their songs love-sweet, death-sad;
The robin woke from his slumber,
And rang out, clear and glad.
— Now go! — she coldly said; — 't is late; —
And followed him — to latch the gate.

He took the rosebud from her hair,
While, — You shall not! — she said;
He closed her hand within his own,
And, while her tongue forbade,
Her will was darkened in the eclipse
Of blinding love upon his lips.