Out of the church she followed them
With a lofty step and mien:
His bride was like a village maid,
Maude Clare was like a queen.
Son Thomas, his lady mother said,
With smiles, almost with tears:
May Nell and you but live as true
As we have done for years;
Your father thirty years ago
Had just your tale to tell;
But he was not so pale as you,
Nor I so pale as Nell.
My lord was pale with inward strife,
And Nell was pale with pride;
My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare
Or ever he kissed the bride.
Lo, I have brought my gift, my lord,
Have brought my gift, she said:
To bless the hearth, to bless the board,
To bless the marriage-bed.
Heres my half of the golden chain
You wore about your neck,
That day we waded ankle-deep
For lilies in the beck:
Heres my half of the faded leaves
We plucked from the budding bough,
With feet amongst the lily leaves, -
The lilies are budding now.
He strove to match her scorn with scorn,
He faltered in his place:
Lady, he said, - Maude Clare, he said, -
Maude Clare, and hid his face.
She turnd to Nell: My Lady Nell,
I have a gift for you;
Though, were it fruit, the blooms were gone,
Or, were it flowers, the dew.
Take my share of a fickle heart,
Mine of a paltry love:
Take it or leave it as you will,
I wash my hands thereof.
And what you leave, said Nell, Ill take,
And what you spurn, Ill wear;
For hes my lord for better and worse,
And him I love Maude Clare.
Yea, though youre taller by the head,
More wise and much more fair:
Ill love him till he loves me best,
Me best of all Maude Clare.
