THE BEST OF ALL

The Database of Ornament

                        GIVE me wine of the ruby hue,
                        One sweet love, and a friend or two—
                        Wine and a Woman and one true Friend,
                        These are best, to the world’s end!
                                 .             .             .             .            .
                        Then I drank of the wine-cup, rich and deep,
                        I drank like a god, and I fell asleep:
                        And out of the cup a serpent crept
                        And stung my soul, while my body slept.

                        I trusted my Love and I had no fear.
                        But gazed in her eyes that shone so clear:
                        And out of their depths the soul of Sin
                        Sprang like a fiend, and drew me in.

                        I loved my friend, and I knew not why,
                        I asked no token to love him by:
                        But only I knew him for my friend—
                        And that was good, to the world’s end.

                                                                                                W. MACDONALD.