 | Rehearsals (1870) |  |
110
FREEDOM OR FETTERS?
Come, let us leave, have no smooth words but go;
Better break off at once than palter so.
Have out the ending, cloud in idle tears.
Freedom outweighs regret of altered years
Gone by and done.
Better break off at once than palter so.
Have out the ending, cloud in idle tears.
Freedom outweighs regret of altered years
Gone by and done.
Review the lovely dream we thought to reach;
The blind desire that held us each to each;
Count out in calmness all the loss and gain;
And say, when all is done, could we remain
Heart-bound as one?
The blind desire that held us each to each;
Count out in calmness all the loss and gain;
And say, when all is done, could we remain
Heart-bound as one?
Peace is a nobler thing than loving thee,
More than love's sweet is to be trouble-free.
We shall not better our old loving ways,
And the chain galled us in those half-sweet days
Though silken fine.
More than love's sweet is to be trouble-free.
111
And the chain galled us in those half-sweet days
Though silken fine.
Content thee and depart. Can I control
The lapsing month or bind the season's roll?
Can I command that change shall flee away?
Will Fate, who rules the gods, hear what I say?
Is all power mine?
The lapsing month or bind the season's roll?
Can I command that change shall flee away?
Will Fate, who rules the gods, hear what I say?
Is all power mine?
You give me your old smiling as I speak;
You whisper, I was vain if you were weak.
Ah, child, refrain to portion each his blame;
Is it delight to weigh how each fault came?
Ah, who shall tell?
You whisper, I was vain if you were weak.
Ah, child, refrain to portion each his blame;
Is it delight to weigh how each fault came?
Ah, who shall tell?
Still, though I be most hungry to begone,
Weary of all things, asking peace alone;
Yet, if you smile me that old smile again,
My soul will grow a weakling, and refrain
To say farewell.
Weary of all things, asking peace alone;
Yet, if you smile me that old smile again,
My soul will grow a weakling, and refrain
To say farewell.
| Rehearsals (1870) | |