( TO WILLIAM WATSON )

'T IS said of thee — as 't were a virtue rare! —
That thou, first seeing, like fair rose on vine,
Her than the bluebell and the rose more fair,
But half a moon let pass ere she was thine.

Thou caitiff knight! What one of Arthur's clan
E'er had his love at such amazing cost?
Call thyself laggard, but no longer man —
Thou spendthrift of a priceless fortnight lost!