XXXV
O! Love’s a crystal cup filled rim to rim
And set for us by gods at Life’s banquet,
Where we may drink and drink as Titans yet
Find always there is sweetness at the brim:
When laughter’s ringing loud, who sits there grim
And scorns the gift, the best the gods have set,
Will find it empty if he try to wet
Late at Life’s banquet board dead lips and dim.
Come, Love, I pledge you in this goodly gift!
High! high! above our heads the cup now lift!
Let’s drain it here together, you and I,
For ages that come after we’ll not sigh,
For we have bought the best with this our breath—
Alone remembered joy is safe from death.