Good-bye, good-bye, my dearest!

My bravest and my fairest!

I bless thee with a blessing meet

For all thy manly worth.

Good-bye, good-bye, my treasure!

My only pride and pleasure!

I bless thee with the strength of love

Before I send thee forth.

Mine own! I fear to bless thee,

I hardly dare caress thee,

Because I love thee with a love

That overgrows my life;

And as the time gets longer

Its tender throbs grow stronger:

My maiden troth but waits to be

The fondness of the wife.

Alas! alas! my dearest,

The look of pain thou wearest!

The kisses thou dost bend to give

Are parting ones to-day!

Thy sheltering arms are round me,

But the cruel pain hath found me.

What shall I do with all this love

When thou art gone away?

Ah well! One poor endeavor

Shall nerve me while we sever:

I will not fret my hero's heart

With piteous sobs and tears.

I send thee forth, my dearest,

My truest and my rarest,

And yield thee to the keep of Him

Who blessed our happier years.

Once more good-bye! and bless thee!

My faltering lips caress thee.

When shall I feel thy hand again

Go kindly o'er my hair?

Let the dear arms that fold me

One last sweet moment hold me:

In life or death our love shall be

No weaker for the wear!