"A year agone come Midsummer-night

I woke by the Northern sea;

I lay and dreamed of my delight

Till love no more would let me be.

"Seaward I went by night and cloud

To hear the white swans sing;

But though they sang both clear and loud,

I hearkened a sweeter thing.

"O sweet and sweet as none may tell

Was the speech so close 'twixt lip and lip: