Strong and tender and stern and right,
Darker than night,
And terribler than Nero.
Heigh, but he was dear, O!
And there, to bind our fellowship,
I laughed at him; and a moment after,
I laughed again till he bit his lip,
For the test of love is laughter.
“Lord and master, look up!” I cried;
“I wreathe your brow with a laurel!