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MAUDE CLARE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out of the church she followed them
Last Line: Me best of all, maude clare.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


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.'










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