The Refusal

MINE is a palace fair to see, All hung with gold and silver things, It is more glorious than a king's, And crownèd queens might envy me. Ah, no, I will not let you in! Stay rather at the gates and weep For all the splendour that I keep, The treasures that you cannot win. While you desire and I refuse, For both the palace still is here-- Its turrets gold, its silver gear Are yours to wish for--mine to use. But if I let you in, I know The spell would break, the palace fade, And we stand, trembling and afraid, Lost in the dark where chill winds blow.