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I heard fond crying in my ears, Fond and vain regret For life as it had been ere tears Made women's eyes wet; I saw arise the host of stars And listen'd to their song; "O we have seen a thousand wars And woe agelong!

"What are you men, what are you women But a shifting sand? The tide of life is overbrimming— God holds not His hand; But all the evil with the good To His mill is grist; He serves his mood now with man's blood Who serv'd it once with beast."

So sang the stars. That night our love Burn'd at its holiest; For aught we knew the same might prove Our last in the nest. But from the bed my passion pled, O God, let us be! If woman's anguish her bestead, Then forsake not me!