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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EDITH by AUGUSTA DAVIES WEBSTER

First Line: I LOVED HIM HEAVEN'S SELF ABOVE
Last Line: AND MY WEDDING-ROBE WILL BE A SHROUD.
I LOVED him Heaven's self above,
I was too proud to own my love;
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
He angered at my rightful pride,
He seemed a while to turn aside.
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

I smiled through all the bitter pain,
I frowned when he came back again;
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
I said, "May Margaret is fair,
Your wooing prospers better there;"
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

I said, "May Margaret has gold,
Wisely your love-tale you have told;"
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
"I speak a friendly word," I said
"Go, ask May Margaret to wed."
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

His face grew pale, and he was gone,
He went, Oh God! how was I lone!
Oh! well that a maiden should be proud!
Oh God! those weary months of snow!
But none had knowledge of my woe.
And my bridal-robe will be a shroud.

I did not even hear his name
Until the leafy summer came;
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
And then May Margaret came and said,
Another month would see them wed;
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

I gave her joy with many a smile,
Laughed and longed for death the while;
It fits that a maiden should be proud,
I could not hope, I would not weep,
I prayed for everlasting sleep;
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

Yet prayed I might have so much grace
As once again to see his face;
Oh! well that a maiden should be proud,
And when the day was grey and late,
I met him near the churchyard gate.
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

And I had courage from my pride,
Knowing another was his bride;
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
I did not fear my thoughts to free
Knowing that he was lost to me.
And my wedding robe shall be a shroud.

I said, "I care not now to hide
The love my haughty words denied;"
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
"You are not worth such love as mine,
That could not all its force divine."
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

"You are not worth such love as mine,
That on her weakness can recline;"
It fits a young maiden to be proud,
"'Tis well in her your joy to find
A baby face, a baby mind;"
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

"You should have prized my scorn above
Such easy won unmeaning love;"
'Tis well that a maiden should be proud,
"Yet now she needs must be your wife,
Know Love for you was all my life!"
And my wedding-robe must be a shroud.

Oh! there was anguish in his eye,
He looked as one about to die;
'Tis well that a maiden should be proud,
But when he spoke his voice was strong
"May Edith you have done me wrong;"
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

"Long since I had a heart to give,
You crushed it down, it could not live;"
Oh! well for a maiden to be proud!
"And I can never love again
With that deep love that seemed in vain."
And my wedding dress will be a shroud.

"Such love as I on you had set
I could not give to Margaret;"
'Tis well that a maiden should be proud,
"But in my wearied heart I said,
That Edith whom I loved is dead."
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

"May Edith you can never be
That which you once have been to me;"
'Tis well that a maiden should be proud,
"May Edith I can never be
As if you had not been to me."
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

"My heart is slain with wild regret
But I have rest in Margaret;"
Oh! well for a maiden to be proud,
"Edith, my hope in you is o'er,
Though she is less, yet is she more."
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.

I hear the merry marriage bells
Clanging through the echoing dells;
Oh! well that a maiden should be proud!
I pray that they ere long may toll
The death-knell for a parting soul.
And my wedding-robe will be a shroud.







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