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.’