Friends

Now must I these three praise
Three women that have wrought
what joy is in my days:
One because no thought,
Nor those unpassing cares,
No,not in these seventeen
Many-times-troubled years,
Could ever come between
Mind and delighted mind;
And one because her hand
Had strength that could unbind
What none can understand,
What none can have and thrive,
Younth's dreamy load,till she
So changed me that i live
Labouring in ecstasy.
And what of her that took
And till my younth was gone
With scarce a pitying look?
How could i praise that one?
When day begins to break
I count my good and bad,
Being wakeful for her sake,
Remembering wat she had
What eagle look till shows,
While up from my heart's root
So great a sweetness flows
I shake from head to floot.