Friend, woo me not so earnestly. br Vain is thy prayer. br Nay, if in truth thou lovest me. br Hereafter spare br My wearied ears a suit denied. br Go, choose for thee a younger bride. br Not I will brook to live with thee. br An old wife to a young man tied, br Doomed as the years fleet by to see br A spouse who gazes hungry-eyed br On such as she can never be. br The young and fair. br And waits to enshroud her clay with glee, br And graveward bear.