Isabella Valancy Crawford (Изабелла Валанси Кроуфорд)
Said the Thistle-Down
"If thou wilt hold my silver hair, O Lady sweet and bright; I'll bring thee, maiden darling, where Thy lover is to-night. Lay down thy robe of cloth of gold-- Gold, weigheth heavily, Thy necklace wound in jewell'd fold, And hie thee forth with me." "O Thistle-down, dear Thistle-down, I've laid my robe aside; My necklace and my jewell'd crown, And yet I cannot glide Along the silver crests of night With thee, light thing, with thee. Rain would I try the airy flight, What sayest thou to me?" "If thou wilt hold my silver hair, O maiden fair and proud; We'll float upon the purple air High as yon lilied cloud. There is a jewel weighs thy heart; If thou with me wouldst glide That cold, cold jewel place apart-- The jewel of thy pride!" "O Thistle-down, dear Thistle-down That jewel part I've set; With golden robe and shining crown And cannot follow yet! Fain would I clasp thy silver tress And float on high with thee; Yet somewhat me to earth doth press-- What sayest thou to me? "If thou wilt hold my silver hair O lady, sweet and chaste; We'll dance upon the sparkling air And to thy lover haste. A lily lies upon thy breast Snow-white as it can be-- It holds thee strong--sweet, with the rest Yield lilied chastity." "O Thistle-down, false Thistle-down I've parted Pride and Gold; Laid past my jewels and my crown-- My golden robings' fold. I will not lay my lily past-- Love's light as vanity When to the mocking wind is cast The lily, Chastity."
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