Classic Poem

" WHEN the winter wooes the summer, when November mates with May,
When my dimples match your wrinkles, my brown hair your locks of gray,
Come to me again for answer: but my nay shall still be nay.

" Pardon words that sound unseemly, — but you will not understand
Softer speech. " She would have passed him, but he stayed her with his hand;
Plying still, with love's own blindness, all the arts at love's command:

" Hear me! I have lands and titles; an with me you cross the tide,
Wealth shall wait upon your bidding; not one wish shall be denied:
None would know the peasant's daughter in the Baron's haughty bride. "

" Peace! " she cried. " If I should wed you, you would know me bought with gold:
Looking for all gentle passions, — wifely love and trust, — behold,
Than my perjured heart, no marble more insensate or more cold!

" I should pity like a woman; you would palter like a man;
Both would rue the day, heaven-blighted, when the wretched farce began:
And for me, I crave a blessing on my bridal, not a ban . "

Pale she stood amid the gloaming; all the glory of her eyes
Quenched in tears: but still he pleaded, — " she was foolish, he was wise;
Love would come at love's own bidding, " — till, as deer to covert flies, —

Hard beset and spent, — she answered (Oh, her shame was fair to see!),
" Since no other word can touch you, listen, then; — I am not free!
Down in yonder mossy cottage beats a manly heart for me.

" Oh, his eyes are blue as heaven! Oh, his locks are like the sun!
And I love him! though of houses, gold, or silver, he has none;
I have promised I will wed him when the harvest work is done. "

Rosy stood she in the gloaming; and a certain queenly grace,
Born of maiden truth, and fairer than the blushes on her face,
Sealed the " No " she gave for answer, proudly turning from the place.