Xiii

She interrupts him, speaking impetuously:

But if I lose you, if you part with me, I will not love you less Loving so much now. If there is to be A parting and distress,-- What will avail to comfort or relieve The soul that’s anguished most?-- The knowledge that it once possessed, perceive, The love that it has lost. You must acknowledge, under sun and moon All that we feel is old; Let morning flutter from night’s brown cocoon Wide wings of flaxen gold; The moon burst through the darkness, soaring o’er, Like some great moth and white, These have been seen a myriad times before And with renewed delight.-- So ’tis with love;--how old yet new it is!-- This only should we heed,-- To once have known, to once have felt love’s bliss, Is to be rich indeed.-- Whether we win or lose, we lose or win, Within our gain or loss Some purpose lies, some end unseen of sin, Beyond our crown or cross.