Love and Honour

Love wooing Honour, Honour’s love did win,
And had his pleasure all a summer’s day.
Not understanding how the dooms begin,
Love wooing Honour, wooed her life away.
Then wandered he for full five years’ unrest,
Until, one night, this Honour that had died
Came as he woke, in youth grown glorified,
And smiling like the saints whom God has blest.

But when he saw her in the dear night shine
Serene, with more than mortal light upon her,
The boy that careless was of things divine,
Small Love, turned penitent to worship Honour.
So Love can conquer Honour; when that’s past,
Dead Honour risen outdoes Love at last.