Maude Clare Christina Rossetti

Out of the church she followed them
With a lofty step and mien:
His bride was like a village maid,
Maude Clare was like a queen.

"Son Thomas," his lady mother said,
With smiles, almost with tears:
"May Nell and you but live as true
As we have done for years;

"Your father thirty years ago
Had just your tale to tell;
But he was not so pale as you,
Nor I so pale as Nell."

My lord was pale with inward strife,
And Nell was pale with pride;
My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare
Or ever he kissed the bride.

"Lo, I have brought my gift, my lord,
        Have brought my gift," she said:
"To bless the hearth, to bless the board,
        To bless the marriage-bed.

"Here's my half of the golden chain
        You wore about your neck,
That day we waded ankle-deep
        For lilies in the beck: