that wanes not, The Love that ne’er can wane.

p. 25

In dreams she grows not older The lands of Dream among, Though all the world wax colder, Though all the songs be sung, In dreams doth he behold her Still fair and kind and young.

p. 26THE PROMISE OF HELEN

p. 26

Whom hast thou longed for most, True love of mine? Whom hast thou loved and lost? Lo, she is thine!

Whom

She that another wed Breaks from her vow; She that hath long been dead Wakes for thee now.

Dreams haunt the hapless bed, Ghosts haunt the night, Life crowns her living head, Love and Delight.

Nay, not a dream nor ghost, Nay, but Divine, She that was loved and lost Waits to be thine!

p. 27THE RESTORATION OF ROMANCE.

p. 27

TO H. R. H., R. L. S., A. C. D., AND S. W.

TO H. R. H., R. L. S., A. C. D., AND S. W.

King Romance was wounded deep, All his knights were dead and gone, All his court was fallen on sleep, In a vale of Avalon! Nay, men said, he will not come, Any night or any morn. Nay, his puissant voice is dumb, Silent his enchanted horn!

King

King Romance was forfeited, Banished from his Royal home, With a price upon his head, Driven with sylvan folk to roam. King Romance is fallen, banned, Cried his foemen overbold, Broken is the wizard wand, All the stories have been told!

p. 28Then you came from South and North, From Tugela, from the Tweed, Blazoned his achievements forth, King Romance is come indeed! All his foes are overthrown, All their wares cast out in scorn, King Romance hath won his own, And the lands where he was born!

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