Rewards and Fairies

GLORIANA

The Two Cousins

     Valour and Innocence
     Have latterly gone hence
     To certain death by certain shame attended.
     Envy—ah!  even to tears!—
     The fortune of their years
     Which, though so few, yet so divinely ended.

     Scarce had they lifted up
     Life’s full and fiery cup,
     Than they had set it down untouched before them.
     Before their day arose
     They beckoned it to close—
     Close in destruction and confusion o’er them.

     They did not stay to ask
     What prize should crown their task,
     Well sure that prize was such as no man strives for;
     But passed into eclipse,
     Her kiss upon their lips—
     Even Belphoebe’s, whom they gave their lives for!