Is it life's conspiracy
to offer me no ease,
fate's sentence, an ill destiny?
To be shown love's promise,
but in abeyance and uncertain,
the present clouded with
   dark portent --
what is wished for may never be
and hope's finest vision
   may come to nought.
But I can have no complaint,
nor dispute my measure,
even if my fate be a cold
   and hard mistress.