Ballads and Lyrical poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

I cannot give thee all my heart,
Lady, lady—
My faith and country claim a part,
My sweet lady:
But yet I'll pledge thee word of mine
That all the rest is truly thine.
The raving passion of a boy,
Warm though it be, will quickly cloy—
Confide thou rather, in the man
Who vows to love thee all he can,
My sweet lady.

II

Affection, founded on respect,
Lady, lady,
Can never dwindle to neglect,
My sweet lady.
And while thy gentle virtues live,
Such is the love that I will give.
The torrent leaves its channel dry;
The brook runs on incessantly:
The storm of passion lasts a day,
But deep true love endures alway,
My sweet lady.

III

Accept then a divided heart,
Lady, lady.
Faith, Friendship, Honour—each have part,
My sweet lady.
While at one altar we adore,
Faith shall but make us love the more;
And Friendship, true to all beside,
Will ne'er be fickle to a bride;
And Honour, based on manly truth,
Shall love in age as well as youth,
My sweet lady.