`Your ringlets, your ringlets, That look so golden-gay, If you will give me one, but one, To kiss it night

and day, Then never chilling touch of Time Will turn it silver-gray; And then shall I know it is all true gold To flame and sparkle and stream as of old, Till all the comets in heaven are cold, And all her stars decay.' `Then take it, love, and put it by; This cannot change, nor yet can I.' 2. `My ringlet, my ringlet, That art so golden-gay, Now never chilling touch of Time Can turn thee silver-gray; And a lad may wink, and a girl may hint, And a fool may say his say; For my doubts and fears were all amiss, And I swear henceforth by this and this, That a doubt will only come for a kiss, And a fear to be kiss'd away.' `Then kiss it, love, and put it by: If this can change, why so can I.' II. O Ringlet, O Ringlet, I kiss'd you night and day, And Ringlet, O Ringlet,

You still are golden-gay, But Ringlet, O Ringlet, You should be silver-gray: For what is this which now I'm told, I that took you for true gold, She that gave you's bought and sold, Sold, sold. 2. O Ringlet, O Ringlet, She blush'd a rosy red, When Ringlet, O Ringlet, She clipt you from her head, And Ringlet, O Ringlet, She gave you me, and said, `Come, kiss it, love, and put it by If this can change, why so can I.' O fie, you golden nothing, fie You golden lie. 3. O Ringlet, O Ringlet, I count you much to blame, For Ringlet, O Ringlet, You put me much to shame, So Ringlet, O Ringlet, I doom you to the flame.

For what is this which now I learn, Has given all my faith a turn? Burn, you glossy heretic, burn, Burn, burn.