Love's Illusions

A woman, strange, and beautiful to see,
With limbs of light, and hair of the sun's gold!
Her fair hand did a mighty goblet hold;
The bubbling wine thereof shone dazzlingly,
So that I said, " Now, give, even to me.
Some of this wine that sparkles bright and cold."
She gayly laughed, and said, " Thou art too bold,"
And went her way, and heeded not my plea.

But I said, " She will come again; " and bore
The present bitter for a coming sweet:
And lo! she came, but passed me as before,
And came yet once again, but held no more
The goblet filled with wine of life and heat,
That stains now, and makes wet, God's hands and feet.