His pledge this legend bore inlaid,—

Love, that two hearts hath mutual made,

Defies the knife of keenest blade;

Heigho! &c.

But keen, alas! as knives are shears

And dubious all our fleeting years,

Heigho! &c.

The morn that should have made them one,

Fate’s shears the bridegroom’s thread outspun,

Sever’d; and bridal there was none,