The Widow

When she smiles her love draws nigh,
When she weeps he doth depart,
And returns to the Heavens high
With an unwounded heart.

God would suffer him no such wrong
As that he should see her tears
Lest his heart be sad among
His young joyous peers.

Therefore shall her tears be dried,
Therefore her poor lips will smile,
So her darling by her side
May sit down awhile.

So she bends her will to learn
Patience high and heavenly mirth,
That her soldier may return
To his own hearth.

Media: <html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Widow</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">When</span> she smiles her love draws nigh,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When she weeps he doth depart,</p><p class="line">And returns to the Heavens high</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With an unwounded heart.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">God would suffer him no such wrong</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">As that he should see her tears</p><p class="line">Lest his heart be sad among</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">His young joyous peers.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Therefore shall her tears be dried,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Therefore her poor lips will smile,</p><p class="line">So her darling by her side</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">May sit down awhile.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So she bends her will to learn</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Patience high and heavenly mirth,</p><p class="line">That her soldier may return</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To his own hearth.</p></div></body></html>