I.

But who shall so forecast the years
    And find in loss a gain to match?
    Or reach a hand thro’ time to catch
The far-off interest of tears?

Let Love clasp Grief lest both be drown’d,
    Let darkness keep her raven gloss:
    Ah, sweeter to be drunk with loss,
To dance with death, to beat the ground,

Than that the victor Hours should scorn
    The long result of love, and boast,
    ‘Behold the man that loved and lost,
But all he was is overworn.’