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LOVE! Yes, it fits thee well to talk of
love!
A dainty word, a music-mellow word!
Set it with phrases from thy bauble wit -
"A joy enthroned all other joys above;
It is strange sweetness but to speak of it,
For one whose soul has by its thrill been stirred."
Love! What is love to beings like to thee?
An idol, glaring blank through jeweled eyes,
Its soulless framework garnished round with gold
A stair to mount thee to a high degree;
A tinsel gewgaw fashioned to be sold,
Whose little value must be glozed with lies.
Thou speak of love! thou speak of love to me!
How have I lowered me that I should seem
So sunk beneath myself to have thee dare
Deem I might bow my pride, my love to thee?
If thou couldst love, then hadst thou known despair,
And hadst not vexed me with such useless theme.
Oh I am fair! oh very dearly fair!
I know it, I have heard the thing ere now,
And I at lesser price can buy such praise -
Who gleams in gold finds dazzled eyes not rare -
'Twere somewhat dear to barter youth's bright days
For the cheap flattery of a coin-paid vow.
Woo me no more. I will not hear thy prayer.
One listened once who gave thee all her heart,
But she was poor, she could not give thee more.
Great grief no doubt! Alas thy deep despair!
"Death anguish all thy martyred spirit tore,
"But it was duty though a death to part."
Ah! shrink: thou didst not dream I knew the tale -
She plains it now among the mouldering dead -
Shame thee to sorrow if thou canst know shame.
How couldst thou dream thy pleadings should prevail?
What woman-due of honour could I claim
If I could stoop with such as thou to wed?
I will not hear thee. Do not chafe me more;
It lessens me that thou hast seen one ray,
One least faint ray of hope that thou shouldst snare
My fancy with thy false tongue's practised lore.
I buy no lover, I. Waste no more care.
I pray thee seek thyself some fitter prey. |
A Woman Sold
Bartimaeus
Judas
Pilate
The Walk To Emmaus
A Bride
A March Night
A Messenger
A Mother's Cry
A Wedding
Afterwards
Dead Amy
Deserted
Dreaming
Glad Waves
Going
How The Brook Sings
If
In The Storm
In The Sunshine
Looking Downstairs
Mary Lost
Never Again
Night Whispers
On The Lake
On The Shore
Our Lily
Passing Away
Perjured
Safe
Shadow
Sunlight
The Blush Rose
The Gift
The Heiress' Wooer
The Hidden Wound
The Lake
The Land Of Happy Dreams
The Old Year Out
The Red Star On The Hill
The River
The Setting Star
The Shadow Of A Cloud
To And Fro
To One Of Many
Too faithful
Two Maidens |
