COULD you not in silence borrow Strength to go from us ungrieving? All these hours of loving sorrow Only make more bitter leaving. You will go forth lonely, thinking Of the pain you leave behind you; From the golden sunlight shrinking For the earthly tears will blind you. Better, ah, if now we parted For the little while remaining; You would seek when broken-hearted For the mighty heart's sustaining. You would go then gladly turning From our place of wounds and weeping, With your soul for comfort burning To the mother-bosom creeping.