Beyond rings of twisted gold,
Beyond silks from far Cathay,
Beyond spices from the Indies,
And fine woods from Afrikay
Is the love within my hold,
And the love which holdeth me,
Though my love be far away,
Across the gulf of sea.
One day the whole world shall be told,
And I long for that sweet day,
When we pledge each other surety
That shall bring us to one bay.
O, the love within my hold,
And the love which holdeth me,
I will nevermore more betray,
Though betwixt us lieth the sea.
Once I was so fair and bold,
With a lover I did play,
But the wretch was never true to me,
So I have gone my way
To find this love within my hold,
And this love which holdeth me,
Though he still be far away,
Across the gulf of sea.
Yea, my lover I sought of old,
Ever hinting that he would stray:
Now the wheel of my fate's in the safe-keep-
ing of one who will solace and stay.
Yea, the love within my hold
Is the love which holdeth me,
From so very far away
Across the gulf of sea.
There is nothing a man so cold
Offereth that can outweigh
The anchor of his faith with me
Or the tradewind that filleth my sail!
For the love within my hold,
And the love which holdeth me,
Though my love be far away
Across the gulf of sea
Is worth more than rings of twisted gold,
More than silks from far Cathay,
More than spices from the Indies,
And fine woods from Afrikay.
Rosamunde del Shore A.S. XXXII
