Act IV, scene iii <br /> <br /> <br />A cypress-bough and a rose-wreath sweet, <br />A wedding robe, and a winding-sheet, <br /> A bridal bed and a bier. <br />Thine be the kisses, maid, <br /> And smiling Love's alarms; <br /> And thou, pale youth, be laid <br /> In the grave's cold arms. <br /> Each in his own charms, <br /> Death and Hymen both are here; <br /> So up with scythe and torch, <br /> And to the old church porch, <br /> While all the bells ring clear: <br /> And rosy, rosy the bed shall bloom, <br /> And earthy, earthy heap up the tomb. <br /> <br />Now tremble dimples on your cheek, <br />Sweet be your lips to taste and speak, <br /> For he who kisses is near: <br />For her the bride-groom fair, <br /> In youthful power and force; <br />For him the grizard bare, <br /> Pale knight on a pale horse, <br /> To woo him to a corpse. <br /> Death and Hymen both are here, <br /> So up with scythe and torch, <br /> And to the old church porch, <br /> While all the bells ring clear: <br /> And rosy, rosy the bed shall bloom, <br /> And earthy, earthy heap up the tomb.<br /><br />Thomas Lovell Beddoes<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-cypress-bough-and-a-rose-wreath-sweet-song/
