Seek Not to Understand Her

Where tales of prince and paladin
On tapestry are told.
Why seek her heart to understand,
Man may not hope her heart to win,
If but enough thou knowest
Be his of common mould.
To prove that all thy love, like sand,
Upon the wind thou throwest?
But I — though spurs are won no more
The ill thou makest out at last
V/here herald's trump is pealing,
Doth but reflect the bitter past,
Nor thrones carved out for lady fair
While all the good thou learnest yet,
Where steel-clad ranks are wheeling —
But makes her harder to forget.
I loose the falcon of my hopes
Upon as proud a flight
What matters all the nobleness
As those who hawk'd at high renown,
Which in her breast resideth,
In song-ennobled fight.
And what the warmth and tenderness
If daring, then, true love may crown,
Her mien of coldness hideth,
My love she must requite.
If but ungenerous thoughts prevail
When thou her bosom wouldst assail,
While tenderness and warmth doth ne'er,
By any chance, toward thee appear.