I "YES," I answered you last night; "No," this morning, sir, I say: Colors seen by candle-light Will not look the same by day. II When the viols played their best, Lamps above and laughs below, Love me sounded like a jest, Fit for yes or fit for no. III Call me false or call me free, Vow, whatever light may shine, -- No man on your face shall see Any grief for change on mine. IV Yet the sin is on us both; Time to dance is not to woo; Wooing light makes fickle troth, Scorn of me recoils on you. V Learn to win a lady's faith Nobly, as the thing is high, Bravely, as for life and death, With a loyal gravity. VI Lead her from the festive boards, Point her to the starry skies; Guard her, by your truthful words, Pure from courtship's flatteries. VII By your truth she shall be true, Ever true, as wives of yore; And her yes, once said to you, SHALL be Yes for evermore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COLUMBUS by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER HUMAN IGNORANCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH DAVIDS ELEGIE UPON JONATHAN by JOSEPH BEAUMONT PSALM 67 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE EDITH CAVELL by LAURENCE BINYON A PSALM by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ON A PICTURE by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA |