Delayed till she had ceased to know

  • DELAYED till she had ceased to know,
  • Delayed till in its vest of snow
  • Her loving bosom lay.
  • An hour behind the fleeting breath,
  • Later by just an hour than death,—
  • Oh, lagging yesterday!

  • Could she have guessed that it would be;
  • Could but a crier of the glee
  • Have climbed the distant hill;
  • Had not the bliss so slow a pace,—
  • Who knows but this surrendered face
  • Were undefeated still?

  • Oh, if there may departing be
  • Any forgot by victory
  • In her imperial round,
  • Show them this meek apparelled thing,
  • That could not stop to be a king,
  • Doubtful if it be crowned!