Bowed till his bonnet brushed the floor—

For the Duke on the lady a kiss conferred,

As the courtly custom was of yore.

In a minute can lovers exchange a word?

If a word did pass, which I do not think,

Only one out of a thousand heard.

That was the bridegroom. At day's brink

He and his bride were alone at last

In a bed chamber by a taper's blink.

Calmly he said that her lot was cast,