Where wert thou, love, when from Twm Barium turned
The moon's face full the way of Alteryn,
And from his wood's dark cage the nightingale
Drave out clear notes across the open sheen?

I stood alone to see the ripples run
From light to shade, and shade to light in play;
Like fearsome children stealing guilty moves
When Age is dozing - when thou wert away.

The banks of Alteryn are no less sweet,
Nor Malpas brook more chary of his flower,
And I unchanged as they; but thou, dear love,
Allowest Time to part us with his hours.