| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1542. Love and Life |
| | | By Julie Mathilde Lippmann |
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| “GIVE me a fillet, Love,” quoth I, | |
| “To bind my Sweeting’s heart to me, | |
| So ne’er a chance of earth or sky | |
| Shall part us ruthlessly: | |
| A fillet, Love, but not to chafe | 5 |
| My Sweeting’s soul, to cause her pain; | |
| But just to bind her close and safe | |
| Through snow and blossom sun and rain: | |
| A fillet, boy!” | |
| Love said, “Here ’s joy.” | 10 |
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| “Give me a fetter, Life,” quoth I, | |
| “To bind to mine my Sweeting’s heart, | |
| So Death himself must fail to pry | |
| With Time the two apart: | |
| A fetter, Life, that each shall wear, | 15 |
| Whose precious bondage each shall know. | |
| I prithee, Life, no more forbear— | |
| Why dost thou wait and falter so? | |
| Haste, Life—be brief!” | |
| Said Life:—“Here ’s grief.” | 20 |
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