Love and Despair

One came to me with sad, sweet eyes, and said,
A mighty sorrow trembling in his voice,
"Weep now, poor heart, for all thy dreams and joys,
For, lo, thy very hope of them lies dead."
And as he spake, withal, he bowed his head.
And for a little while there was a noise
As of one weeping, when fell Chance destroys
The life whereby his following life was led.

And he who spake to me for Love I knew.
Though cypress leaves were bound about his hair:
Then close to us another form there drew, —
Stern was his aspect, surely; nowise fair;
Yet round me a strange, awful rest there grew,
"Thy name? " I cried; and he replied, " Despair!"