William Cox Bennett

William Cox Bennett, född 1820, död 1895, var en engelsk skald.

Bennett författade en mängd smärre dikter i folkton, vilka vann stor popularitet genom enkelhet och innerlighet. Av hans diktsamlingar kan nämnas Poems (1850), Songs of sailors (1872) och Songs for soldiers (1879).

The Worn Wedding-Ring (Den Slitna Vigselringen)

Your wedding-ring wears thin, dear wife; ah,
         summers not a few,
Since I put it on your finger first, have passed
         o'er me and you;
And, love, what changes we have seen, - what
         cares and pleasures, too, -
Since you became my own dear wife, when this
         old ring was new!

O, blessings on that happy day, the happiest of
         my life,
When, thanks to God, your low, sweet “Yes”
         made you my loving wife!
Your heart will say the same, I know; that
         day 's as dear to you, -
That day that made me yours, dear wife, when
         this old ring was new.

How well do I remember now your young sweet
         face that day!
How fair you were, how dear you were, my
         tongue could hardly say;
Nor how I doated on you; O, how proud I was
         of you!
But did I love you more than now, when this
         old ring was new?

No – no! no fairer were you then than at this
         hour to me;
And, dear as life to me this day, how could you
         dearer be?
As sweet your face might be that day as now it
         is, 't is true;
But did I know your heart as well when this old
         ring was new?

And blessed be God! all He has given are with
         us yet; around
Our table every precious life lent to us still is
         found.
Though cares we 've known, with hopeful hearts
         the worst we 've struggled through;
Blessed be His name for all His love since this
         old ring was new!

(Från dikten "The Worn Wedding-Ring" ("Den Slitna Vigselringen") av William Cox Bennett)

Källor

• Bennett, William Cox i Nordisk familjebok (andra upplagan, 1904)