| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 774. A Wedding-Song |
| | | By John White Chadwick |
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| I SAID: “My heart, now let us sing a song | |
| For a fair lady on her wedding-day; | |
| Some solemn hymn or pretty roundelay, | |
| That shall be with her as she goes along | |
| To meet her joy, and for her happy feet | 5 |
| Shall make a pleasant music, low and sweet.” | |
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| Then said my heart: “It is right bold of thee | |
| To think that any song that we could sing | |
| Would for this lady be an offering | |
| Meet for such gladness as hers needs must be, | 10 |
| What time she goes to don her bridal ring, | |
| And her own heart makes sweetest carolling.” | |
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| And so it is that with my lute unstrung, | |
| Lady, I come to greet thy wedding-day; | |
| But once, methinks, I heard a poet say, | 15 |
| The sweetest songs remain for aye unsung. | |
| So mine, unsung, at thy dear feet I lay, | |
| And with a “Peace be with you!” go my way. | |
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