The song of Love and Death

And in those days she made a little song,

And called her song "The Song of Love and Death,"

And sang it: sweetly could she make and sing.

Sweet is true love tho' giv'n in vain, in vain;

And sweet is death that puts an end to pain:

I know not which is sweeter, no, not I.

Love, art thou sweet? then bitter death must be:

Love, thou art bitter; sweet is death to me.

O Love, if death be sweeter, let me die.

Sweet love, that seems not made to fade away,

Sweet death, that seems to make us loveless clay,

I know not which is sweeter, no, not I.

I fain would follow love, if that could be;

I needs must follow death, who calls for me;

Call and I follow, I follow! let me die.