Maude Clare
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; 10 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. 20
'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: 30 'Lady,' he said,--'Maude Clare,' he said,-- 'Maude Clare:'--and hid his face.
She turn'd 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.' 40
'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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