Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress, and Other Poems. Christina Georgina Rossetti

The lilies are budding now.'

      He strove to match her scorn with scorn,

       He faltered in his place: 30

       'Lady,' he said—'Maude Clare,' he said—

       'Maude Clare:'—and hid his face.

      She turn'd to Nell: 'My Lady Nell,

       I have a gift for you;

       Though, were it fruit, the bloom were gone,

       Or, were it flowers, the dew.

      'Take my share of a fickle heart,

       Mine of a paltry love:

       Take it or leave it as you will,

       I wash my hands thereof.' 40

      'And what you leave,' said Nell, 'I'll take,

       And what you spurn, I'll wear;

       For he's my lord for better and worse,

       And him I love, Maude Clare.

      'Yea, though you're taller by the head,

       More wise, and much more fair;

       I'll love him till he loves me best,

       Me best of all, Maude Clare.'