White in the moon the long road lies, The moon stands blank above; White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love. Still hangs the hedge without a gust, Still, still the shadows stay: My feet upon the moonlit dust Pursue the ceaseless way. The world is round, so travellers tell, And straight through reach the track, Trudge on, trudge on, 'twill all be well, The way will guide one back. But ere the circle homeward hies Far, far must it remove: White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love.

With rue my heart is laden For golden friends I had, For many a rose-lipped maiden And many a lightfoot lad.

Now hollow fires burn out to black, And lights are guttering low: Square your shoulders, lift your pack And leave your friends and go.

To justify God's ways to man.

We now to peace and darkness And earth and thee restore Thy creature that thou madest And wilt cast forth no more.

And silence sounds no worse than cheers After earth has stopped the ears.

Tomorrow, more's the pity, Away we both must hie, To air the ditty and to earth I.