Before the beginning of years There came to the making of man Time with a gift of tears, Grief with a glass that ran .

If you were Queen of pleasure And I were King of pain We'd hunt down Love together, Pluck out his flying-feather, And teach his feet a measure, And find his mouth a rein; If you were Queen of pleasure And I were King of pain.

Is not Precedent indeed a King of men? A Word from the Psalmist.

My loss may shine yet goodlier than your gain When Time and God give judgment.

The delight that consumes the desire, The desire that outruns the delight.

Faith speaks when hope is disassembled; faith lives when hope dies dead.

Before the beginning of years There came to the making of man Time with a gift of tears, Grief with a glass that ran, Pleasure with pain for leaven, Summer with flowers that fell, Remembrance fallen from heaven, And Madness risen from hell, Strength without hands to smite, Love that endures for a breath; Night, the shadow of light, And Life, the shadow of death.