Sonnet: “Upon a day, came Sorrow in to me”

on the 9th of June 1290 Upon a day, came Sorrow in to me, Saying, ‘I’ve come to stay with thee a while’; And I perceived that she had ushered Bile And Pain into my house for company. Wherefore I said, ‘Go forth – away with thee!’ But like a Greek she answered, full of guile, And went on arguing in an easy style. Then, looking, I saw Love come silently, Habited in black raiment, smooth and new, Having a black hat set upon his hair; And certainly the tears he shed were true. So that I asked, ‘What ails thee, trifler?’ Answering, he said: ‘A grief to be gone through; For our own lady’s dying, brother dear.’