'A maiden sat beneath a tree; <br />Tear-bedewed her pale cheeks be, <br />And she sigheth heavily. <br /> <br />'From forth the wood into the light <br />A hunter strides with carol light, <br />And a glance so bold and bright. <br /> <br />'He careless stopped and eyed the maid: <br />'Why weepest thou ?' he gently said; <br />'I love thee well, be not afraid.' <br /> <br />'He takes her hand and leads her on — <br />She should have waited there alone, <br />For he was not her chosen one. <br /> <br />'He leans her head upon his breast — <br />She knew 'twas not her home of rest, <br />But, ah, she had been sore distrest. <br /> <br />'The sacred stars looked sadly down; <br />The parting moon appeared to frown, <br />To see thus dimmed the diamond crown. <br /> <br />'Then from the thicket starts a deer — <br />The huntsman, seizing on his spear <br />Cries, 'Maiden, wait thou for me here.' <br /> <br />'She sees him vanish into night — <br />She starts from sleep in deep affright, <br />For it was not her own true knight. <br /> <br />'Though but in dream Gunhilda failed — <br />Though but a fancied ill assailed — <br />Though she but fancied fault bewailed — <br /> <br />'Yet thought of day makes dream of night; <br />She is not worthy of the knight; <br />The inmost altar burns not bright. <br /> <br />'If loneliness thou canst not bear — <br />Cannot the dragon's venom dare — <br />Of the pure meed thou shoulds't despair. <br /> <br />'Now sadder that lone maiden sighs; <br />Far bitterer tears profane her eyes; <br />Crushed in the dust her heart's flower lies.'<br /><br />Sarah Margaret Fuller<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-maiden-sat-beneath-a-tree/
