What can I give thee back, O liberal br And princely giver, who hast brought the gold br And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold, br And laid them on the outside of the wall br For such as I to take or leave withal, br In unexpected largesse? am I cold, br Ungrateful, that for these most manifold br High gifts, I render nothing back at all? br Not so; not cold,--but very poor instead. br Ask God who knows. For frequent tears have run br The colours from my life, and left so dead br And pale a stuff, it were not fitly done br To give the same as pillow to thy head. br Go farther! let it serve to trample on.