"Ever have I wished thee joy"
O Lady White, so fair, so cold,
Who knew a heart of fire
Beneath thy snow-white bosom beat
With passionate desire?
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Silent beside thy Lord thou stood,
A gentle maiden meek,
O, that another and not I
Had roused the roses in thy cheek.
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Upon the cup, thy trembling hand met mine,
My heart did wince with pain
Alas, to think thy young and tender heart
Was doomed to love in vain.
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I cannot love thee, gentle maid,
Thou art as fair as morn,
But my heart is to the Evening given
And I must not be forsworn.
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In haste I to Dunharrow came
And there thou didst entreat me,
“Let me follow for love of thee,
Leave me not, I beseech thee!”
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My heart did groan within my breast
For the damage I must do.
I would not pluck thy maiden flower,
But, thine heart I’d break in two.
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I rode away in sorrow,
My soul weighed down with care
When I last looked into thine eyes,
I saw naught but despair.
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A wild creature caged then didst thou seem
Thine heart bereft of joy,
But freeing thee to follow me
Would both our lives destroy.
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Faith, duty, honor, virtue, all
We both must cast aside
Ere I could give the love ye sought
And keep thee by my side.
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Hopeless despair then drove thee forth
Seeking only valiant death,
To slay the Nazgul Lord and fall
O’erwhelmed by his Black Breath.
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When in the House of Healing
I unto thy side was led,
I feared Death, the bitter bridegroom,
Would take thee to his grim bed.
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I laid thine ice cold hand in mine
And smoothed thine ashen brow
I might but mend thy broken body,
Another’s hand must heal thee now.
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He will thy riven heart bind up
And to thy winter bring
The promise of a future bright,
The golden hope of spring.
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Good Faramir, my Steward, shalt
Thee husband in my stead.
May he give the joy ye sought of me
When thou art come to his bed.