Christina Rossetti — Love from the North

I had a love in soft south land,         Beloved through April far in May; He waited on my lightest breath,         And never dared to say me nay. He saddened if my cheer was sad,         But gay he grew if I was gay; We never differed on a hair,         My yes his yes, my nay his nay. The wedding hour was come, the aisles         Were flushed with sun and flowers that day; I pacing balanced in my thoughts,--         "It's quite too late to think of nay."-- My bridegroom answered in his turn,         Myself had almost answered "yea": When through the flashing nave I heard.         A struggle and resounding "nay." Bridemaids and bridegroom shrank in fear,         But I stood high who stood at bay: "And if I answer yea, fair Sir,         What man art thou to bar with nay?" He was a strong man from the north,         Light-locked, with eyes of dangerous gray: "Put yea by for another time         In which I will not say thee nay." He took me in his strong white arms,         He bore me on his horse away O'er crag, morass, and hair-breadth pass,         But never asked me yea or nay. He made me fast with book and bell,         With links of love he makes me stay; Till now I've neither heart nor power         Nor will nor wish to say him nay.