But if, at first, her virgin fear Should start at love's suspected name, With that of friendship soothe her fearTrue love and friendship are the same. James Thomson. LXV. LOVE'S PETITION. ONLY ME. You love all, you say, Round, beneath, above me : Find me, then, some other way Better than to love me, Me, too, dearest May ! O world-kissing eyes Which the blue heavens melt to! I, sad, over-wise, Loathe the sweet looks dealt to All things-men and flies. You love all, you say, Therefore, Dear, abate me Just your love, I pray! Shut your eyes and hate me Only me-fair May! Elizabeth Barrett Browning. LXVI. LOVE'S PETITION. A GOLDEN CHAIN. I WOULD be calm,-I would be free E The trees are moving with thy grace; The breezes, when mine eyes I close, If thou then in one golden chain Richard, Lord Houghton. LXVII. LOVE'S PETITION, WAITING. I GIVE thee treasures hour by hour, I give thee love as God gives light, And freer than the lavish air. I give thee prayers, like jewels strung, As earth pours freely to the sea Her thousand streams of wealth untold, So flows my silent life to thee, Glad that its very sands are gold. What care I for thy carelessness? Far lingering on a distant dawn My triumph shines, more sweet than late; Rose Terry. LXVIII. LOVE'S PETITION. YOU'LL LOVE ME YET! YOU'LL love me yet!-and I can tarry I plant a heartful now: some seed And yield-what you'll not pluck, indeed, Not love, but, may be, like! You'll look at least on love's remains, A grave's one violet : Your look?-that pays a thousand pains. What's death? You'll love me yet! Robert Browning. LXIX. LOVE'S SURRENDER. Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea; The cloud may stoop from Heaven and take the shape, With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape; But O too fond, when have I answered thee? Ask me no more. Ask me no more: what answer should I give? Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die ! Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are sealed: 'Wretched I, to love in vain! Kiss me, dear, before my dying; Sighing to himself, and crying, Wretched I to love in vain ! Ever scorning and denying To reward your faithful swain : Ever scorning and denying To reward your faithful swain." Told him that he loved in vain : Chloe, laughing at his crying, Told him that he loved in vain : But, repenting and complying, When he kissed she kissed again : Kissed him up before his dying, Kissed him up, and eased his pain. John Dryden. LXXI. LOVE'S FRUITION. THE HAPPY YES." Go not, happy day, From the shining fields; Go not, happy day, Till the maiden yields. Rosy is the West, Rosy is the South, Roses are her cheeks, And a rose her mouth. When the happy Yes Falters from her lips, Pass and blush the news Over glowing ships; Over blowing seas, Over seas at rest, Pass the happy news, Blush it through the West; Till the red man dance By his cedar-tree, And the red man's babe Leap, beyond the sea. Blush from West to East, Blush from East to West, Till the West is East, Blush it through the West. |