O Youth, sweet comrade Youth, wouldst thou be gone？ Long have we dwelt together, thou and I； Together drunk of many an alien dawn, And plucked the fruit of many an alien sky.

    Ah, fickle¹ friend, must I, who yesterday Dreamed forwards to long, undimmed ecstasy², Henceforward dream, because thou wilt³ not stay, Backward to transient pleasure and to thee？

    I give thee back thy false, ephemeral vow⁴； But, O beloved comrade, ere we part, Upon my mournful eyelids⁵ and my brow Kiss me who hold thine image in my heart.