Spring, and fall, and summer, and winter,

Which may Earth love least of them all,

Whose arms embrace as their signs imprint her,

Summer, or winter, or spring, or fall?

The clear-eyed spring with the wood-birds mating,

The rose-red summer with eyes aglow,

The yellow fall with serene eyes waiting,

The wild-eyed winter with hair all snow?

Spring's eyes are soft, but if frosts benumb her

As winter's own will her shrewd breath sting:

Storms may rend the raiment of summer,

And fall grow bitter as harsh-lipped spring.

One sign for summer and winter guides me,

One for spring, and the like for fall:

Whichever from sight of my friend divides me,

That is the worst ill season of all.

343 XV

343

Worse than winter is spring

If I come not to sight of my king:

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