 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
395
GIVE ME A PLACE WITHIN THY HEART!
Give me a place within thy heart,
Who own Love's deep controul—
Give me therein a place and part,
If thou deniest the whole!
Who own Love's deep controul—
Give me therein a place and part,
If thou deniest the whole!
Then will I bear as best I may
The sorrows of my lot—
And bless thee ever night and day,
Bless thee—and blame thee not!
The sorrows of my lot—
And bless thee ever night and day,
Bless thee—and blame thee not!
Nay! I will ne'er of sorrows deem,
But court a dear content;
I'll wear the yoke of my fond dream—
But wear that yoke unbent!
But court a dear content;
I'll wear the yoke of my fond dream—
But wear that yoke unbent!
396
Choose whom thou may'st—love whom thou wilt,
But grant kind thoughts to me;
Mine be the blame then—mine the guilt,
If I fare mournfully!
But grant kind thoughts to me;
Mine be the blame then—mine the guilt,
If I fare mournfully!
I have tamed down my haughty mind
That once no power could tame;
And meekly am I now resigned
To endure a rival's claim!
That once no power could tame;
And meekly am I now resigned
To endure a rival's claim!
The slightest marks thou deign'st to give
Of favour and regard,
On those submissive will I live,
Nor call my fortune hard!
Of favour and regard,
On those submissive will I live,
Nor call my fortune hard!
Most thankfully will I receive
Thy kindness' slightest boon;
Welcome to me still, Love, believe,
As showers to Summer's noon!
Thy kindness' slightest boon;
Welcome to me still, Love, believe,
As showers to Summer's noon!
397
Whate'er thou giv'st that will I take,
My scornful pride hath past;
And if my foolish Heart should break,
The blame on me be cast!
My scornful pride hath past;
And if my foolish Heart should break,
The blame on me be cast!
No more this burning brow is flushed,
My jealous rage hath fled;
And if my Soul sinks bowed and crushed,
The guilt be on my head!
My jealous rage hath fled;
And if my Soul sinks bowed and crushed,
The guilt be on my head!
No blame, no fault with thee shall rest,
Howe'er it may befall;
If I am tortured and oppressed,
'Tis mine own folly all!
Howe'er it may befall;
If I am tortured and oppressed,
'Tis mine own folly all!
Whate'er thou dost must still be right,
And I dare not repine;
I bow to Love's o'erpowering might,
And his strong sway is thine!
And I dare not repine;
I bow to Love's o'erpowering might,
And his strong sway is thine!
398
Choose whom thou may'st—love whom thou wilt,
But spare kind thoughts for me;
Mine be the blame, and mine the guilt,
If I fare mournfully.
But spare kind thoughts for me;
Mine be the blame, and mine the guilt,
If I fare mournfully.
I have tamed down the haughtiest Heart
That e'er owned Love's controul;
Give me in thine a place—a part,
If thou deniest the whole!
That e'er owned Love's controul;
Give me in thine a place—a part,
If thou deniest the whole!
And I with that will be content,
And boast my wealth's great store,
Be thankful for the treasure lent,
And ask and wish no more!
And boast my wealth's great store,
Be thankful for the treasure lent,
And ask and wish no more!
I that of old, with boastful pride,
Thought all too small a part;
Oh! think how torture must have tried
This quick and burning heart!
Thought all too small a part;
Oh! think how torture must have tried
This quick and burning heart!
399
My day of pride, indeed, is o'er—
My haughty claims have ceased;
But do I not deserve the more,
Thus thankful for the least?
My haughty claims have ceased;
But do I not deserve the more,
Thus thankful for the least?
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |