Free to the realms above didst, deathless, wing, Leaving as in a jail Of misery and woe This life of mine which yet to thee did cling! The bright light of the spring, When thou art gone is dead, And beaten to the ground The hope I thought to found On that firm seat where joy its radiance shed. Alas! when thou wert gone, My life died too: naught lived save grief alone. Death claimed thee for his prey, He revelled in his prize, Thy loveliness beyond compare he marred; He came to take away The light of these mine eyes Which gazed on thee and did their riches hoard. Swiftly beneath his sword, Like wax in summer's sun Or cloud before the wind, The fancies of my mind Which sprang from glorious Love have been undone. The stone above thy tomb Shuts in my fortune and declares my doom. How could thy brother speed His cruel, ruthless hand In hot revengeful purpose 'gainst thy heart? How came the wicked deed To tear thee from the land And set thee from thy mortal veil apart? Why sought he with his dart Two lovers thus to sever? Our love had had no end, Our pathway would we wend In holy wedlock hand in hand for ever. Command why didst thou give, Cruel, scornful hand! that dying I should live? My hapless soul shall spend The days, the months, the years, In sad laments that ne'er shall reach their close. 'Midst joys that have no end Thy soul shall know no fears Of stubborn time--forgot for aye thy woes; Secure in thy repose, The bliss thou shalt behold That thy good life hath won Which ne'er shall be undone: Him that so loved thee in remembrance hold, If unto thee be given To keep remembrance of the earth in Heaven.