Hope and Despair

Clouds, dark and lowering, hid the sky;
Despair with cup of rue stood by
And sighed, "Drink, and be mine!"
But with such tears and moans she prayed,
To Hope I turned—the radiant maid—
And quaffed her rosy wine.
That instant heaven was sunny blue!—
And in my secret soul I knew
Despair, the coward, brought the shade,
Brave-hearted Hope the shine.