Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/331

205 THE LADYE, THE LOVER, AND THE CROCUS.

A LEGEND OF LOVE.

Ladye was fair as Ladye could be,

And had lands both broad and fine,

And was wooed by bold Barons of high degree,

Yet blushed at a suit like mine.

She lent to them all a ready ear,

Joined hands with them in the dance;

And each deemed himself to her most dear,

While cheered by her sunny glance.

Her voice was gay, and her step was light

Mid them, in hall and bower,

But soon 'neath my gaze she shrunk, as a blight

Withers the summer-flower.

And then she shunned me, as the dove,

When the hawk soars, shuns her fate:

And I—I deemed not this was Love,

That looked so much like hate.