第30章 WAITING

"Wherefore dwell so sad and lonely,By the desolate sea-shore,With the melancholy surges Beating at your cottage door?

"You shall dwell beside the castle Shadowed by our ancient trees;And your life shall pass on gently,Cared for,and in rest and ease.""Lady,one who loved me dearly Sailed for distant lands away;And I wait here his returning Hopefully from day to day.

"To my door I bring my spinning,Watching every ship I see;Waiting,hoping,till the sunset Fades into the western sea.

"After sunset,at my casement,Still I place a signal light;He will see its well-known shining Should his ship return at night.

"Lady,see your infant smiling,With its flaxen curling hair -I remember when your mother Was a baby just as fair.

"I was watching then,and hoping:

Years have brought great change to all;

To my neighbours in their cottage,To you nobles at the hall.

"Not to me--for I am waiting,And the years have fled so fast,I must look at you to tell me That a weary time has past!

"When I hear a footstep coming On the shingle--years have fled -Yet amid a thousand others,I shall know his quick,light tread.

"When I hear (to-night it may be)

Some one pausing at my door,I shall know the gay soft accents,Heard and welcomed oft before!

"So each day I am more hopeful,He may come before the night:

Every sunset I feel surer He must come ere morning light.

"Then I thank you,noble lady,But I cannot do your will:

Where he left me,he must find me.

Waiting,watching,hoping,still!"