Out of the church she followed them With a lofty step and mien: His bride was like a village maid, Maude Clare was like a queen. "Son Thomas,' his lady mother said, With smiles, almost with tears: "May Nell and you but live as true As we have done for years; "Your father thirty years ago Had just your tale to tell; But he was not so pale as you, Nor I so pale as Nell.' My lord was pale with inward strife, And Nell was pale with pride; My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare Or ever he kissed the bride. "Lo, I have brought my gift, my lord, Have brought my gift,' she said: "To bless the hearth, to bless the board, To bless the marriage-bed. "Here's my half of the golden chain You wore about your neck, That day we waded ankle-deep For lilies in the beck. "Here's my half of the faded leaves We plucked from budding bough, With feet amongst the lily leaves, -- The lilies are budding now.' He strove to match her scorn with scorn, He faltered in his place: "Lady,' he said, -- "Maude Clare,' he said, -- "Maude Clare': -- and hid his face. She turned to Nell: "My Lady Nell, I have a gift for you; Though, were it fruit, the bloom were gone, Or, were it flowers, the dew. "Take my share of a fickle heart, Mine of a paltry love: Take it or leave it as you will, I wash my hands thereof.' "And what you leave,' said Nell, "I'll take, And what you spurn I'll wear; For he's my lord for better and worse, And him I love, Maude Clare. "Yea though you're taller by the head, More wise, and much more fair, I'll love him till he loves me best -- Me best of all, Maude Clare.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COLONIAL MORNING DREAM by KAREN SWENSON ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC by JOHN DRYDEN AFTER APPLE PICKING by ROBERT FROST THE END OF THE EPISODE by THOMAS HARDY SONGS by RICHARD HENRY STODDARD |