Page:The songs that Quinte sang.djvu/20

16 If I had known how steep the path of Fame,
 * How long the weary years of toil and care,

How sharp the sting of poverty, the shame
 * Of baffled hopes, the bitter, wild dispair

Of prayers unanswered, ever backward thrust
 * Upon my heart like ashes, dust on dust,

I never would have ventured all alone
 * To tread the rugged path, if I had known.

If I had known how soon love’s roses fade,
 * How soon their bloom and beauty know eclipse,

A cluster o’er my heart I had not laid,
 * Nor touched the fragrant blossoms with my lips,

And my poor heart and lips had not been torn
 * If I had known love’s rose concealed a thorn,

Which rankled sore long after Love had flown,
 * I had not suffered so, if I had known.

If I had known that friendship had a sting,
 * That smiling lips and eyes could hide deceit,

I had not crowned or worshiped as a king
 * This poor clay idol, shattered at my feet,

Nor given all my loyal trust to learn
 * The friend I loved but mocked me in return.

Over its broken hopes my heart makes moan,
 * I had not trusted so, if I had known.