“And must thou go, and must thou go,
So very, very soon?
There is not time to say farewell
Before the morrow’s noon.”
“O let me kiss away those tears
That dim thine eyes of blue,
The king’s behest must be obeyed,
And I must sigh, adieu.”
“Yet stay! oh stay! my Eustace, stay!
A little, little while;
I fear me that in Gallia’s court
Thou’lt woo another’s smile.”
“Nay, nay, Matilda, say not so,
Thy knight will aye be true,
True to his own betrothed maid,
So now, sweet love, adieu.”
“Yet tarry--canst thou tarry not
One other, other day?
Then guard this pledge of plighted faith
When thou art far away.”
“This precious gift, this flaxen lock,
How fondly shall I view,
And cherish next my heart--but now,
One last, last kiss, adieu.”
* * *
_July 3, 1827._
* * * * *