Come, Tell Me Some Olden Story

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I.
Come tell me some olden story
  Of Knight or Paladin,
Whose sword on the field of glory
  Bright laurel wreaths did win:
Tell me of the heart of fire
  His courage rare did prove;
Speak on—oh! I will not tire—
  But never talk of love.

II.
Or, if thou wilt, I shall hearken
  Some magic legend rare—
How the Wizard’s power did darken
  The sunny summer air:
Thou’lt tell of Banshee’s midnight wail,
  Or corpse-light’s ghastly gleam—
It matters not how wild the tale
  So love be not thy theme.

III.
Or, perhaps thou may’st have travelled
  On distant, foreign strand,
Strange secrets have unravelled
  In many a far-off land;
Describe each castle hoary,
  Each fair or frowning shore—
But should love blend in thy story
  I’ll list thy voice no more.

IV.
Thou askest with emotion,
  Why am I thus so cold,
Urging all thy past devotion,
  Well known—well tried of old;
Hush! bend a little nearer
  That sad, o’erclouded brow—
Could love vows make thee dearer
  To me than thou art now!

© Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon