Ford Madox Hueffer

IN Chepstow stands a castle—

My love and I went there.

The foxgloves on the wall all heard

Her footsteps on the stair.

The sun was high in heaven,

And the perfume in the air

Came from purple cat’s-valerian …

But her footsteps on the stair

Made a sound like silver music

Through the perfume in the air.

Oh I’m weary for the castle,

And I’m weary for the Wye;

And the flowered walls are purple,

And the purple walls are high,

And above the cat’s-valerian

The foxgloves brush the sky.

But I must plod along the road

That leads to Germany.

And another soldier fellow

Shall come courting of my dear;

And it’s I shall not be with her

With my lips beside her ear.

For it’s he shall walk beside her

In the perfume of the air

To the silver, silver music

Of her footstep on the stair.