 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
702
TO THE MARCHIONESS C---.
Most noble thou, whose kind and gentle hand
Was laid upon my head in sickness brief,
And (while it smoothed my pillow) like a thief,
Stole all my heart from this poor will's command;
Was laid upon my head in sickness brief,
And (while it smoothed my pillow) like a thief,
Stole all my heart from this poor will's command;
Thou broughtest joy so near akin to grief,
I felt the impress, like a burning brand;
Of that sweet touch, and all that soft relief
Was turned by fate to one great iron band.
I felt the impress, like a burning brand;
Of that sweet touch, and all that soft relief
Was turned by fate to one great iron band.
But did I love thee? nay, my passion's fire
Burnt like a victim on the altar laid,
That has been dragged through misery and mire;
Burnt like a victim on the altar laid,
That has been dragged through misery and mire;
I sought no solace and I asked no aid,
But to serve on without thy heart for hire,
Drawn by thy beauty, yet of love afraid.
But to serve on without thy heart for hire,
Drawn by thy beauty, yet of love afraid.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |