The Lady's Yes

"Yes!" I answered you last night;     "No!" this morning, Sir, I say!     Colours, seen by candle-light,     Will not look the same by day.     When the tabors played their best,     Lamps above, and laughs below     Love me sounded like a jest,     Fit for Yes or fit for No!     Call me false, or call me free     Vow, whatever light may shine,     No man on your face shall see     Any grief for change on mine.     Yet the sin is on us both     Time to dance is not to woo     Wooer light makes fickle troth     Scorn of me recoils on you!     Learn to win a lady's faith     Nobly, as the thing is high;     Bravely, as for life and death     With a loyal gravity.     Lead her from the festive boards,     Point her to the starry skies,     Guard her, by your truthful words,     Pure from courtship's flatteries.     By your truth she shall be true     Ever true, as wives of yore     And her Yes, once said to you,     SHALL be Yes for evermore.