Once the fair Romance of story
Clad thy moving feet with grace:
Once the world in all its glory
Was but framework to thy face.
Over thee Heaven's gorgeous changes
Roll'd like mantles of a Queen:
In the storm by lightning riven
Thou glowing Love wert seen.

Sadly is the Idol shattered
Since we first could learn to part:
Every magic gift is scattered
And thou art the thing thou art.
Fondly might my soul remember
Something of thy power—but no!
To the winds this tardy ember
Of a fire that falls so low!