Sigh on, sad heart, for Love's eclipse <br />And Beauty's fairest queen, <br />Though 'tis not for my peasant lips <br />To soil her name between: <br />A king might lay his sceptre down, <br />But I am poor and nought, <br />The brow should wear a golden crown <br />That wears her in its thought. <br />The diamonds glancing in her hair, <br />Whose sudden beams surprise, <br />Might bid such humble hopes beware <br />The glancing of her eyes; <br />Yet looking once, I look'd too long, <br />And if my love is sin, <br />Death follows on the heels of wrong, <br />And kills the crime within. <br />Her dress seem'd wove of lily leaves, <br />It was so pure and fine, <br />O lofty wears, and lowly weaves,— <br />But hodden-gray is mine; <br />And homely hose must step apart, <br />Where garter'd princes stand, <br />But may he wear my love at heart <br />That wins her lily hand! <br />Alas! there's far from russet frieze <br />To silks and satin gowns, <br />But I doubt if God made like degrees <br />In courtly hearts and clowns. <br />My father wrong'd a maiden's mirth, <br />And brought her cheeks to blame, <br />And all that's lordly of my birth <br />Is my reproach and shame! <br />'Tis vain to weep,—'tis vain to sigh, <br />'Tis vain, this idle speech, <br />For where her happy pearls do lie, <br />My tears may never reach; <br />Yet when I'm gone, e'en lofty pride <br />May say, of what has been, <br />His love was nobly born and died, <br />Though all the rest was mean! <br />My speech is rude,—but speech is weak <br />Such love as mine to tell, <br />Yet had I words, I dare not speak, <br />So, Lady, fare thee well; <br />I will not wish thy better state <br />Was one of low degree, <br />But I must weep that partial fate <br />Made such a churl of me.<br /><br />Thomas Hood<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sigh-on-sad-heart-for-love-s-eclipse/
