 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
94
I AM CONTENTED.
I am contented with thy love for me—
Though weak in sooth compared with mine for thee!
And yet at times, Love mine, for thine own sake,
In thee would I an equal feeling wake.
Though weak in sooth compared with mine for thee!
And yet at times, Love mine, for thine own sake,
In thee would I an equal feeling wake.
Till thus thou lov'st thou canst not—may'st not know
What mighty joys from mighty feelings flow;
The more than mortal—more than Earthly bliss
Which springs alone from such a love as this!
What mighty joys from mighty feelings flow;
The more than mortal—more than Earthly bliss
Which springs alone from such a love as this!
I would infect thee with an equal zeal,
Teach thee these precious thrills profound to feel,
And unto thee, my Soul of Soul! impart
These beatific tremblings of the Heart!
Teach thee these precious thrills profound to feel,
And unto thee, my Soul of Soul! impart
These beatific tremblings of the Heart!
95
For Oh! this wond'rous Happiness! 'tis not
The cold contentment of a common lot!
From the inmost depths of the inmost being brought,
With rich unrest and glowing strife 'tis fraught.
The cold contentment of a common lot!
From the inmost depths of the inmost being brought,
With rich unrest and glowing strife 'tis fraught.
But nought of self can enter in its dreams,
Beyond all Earth's felicity it seems
Armed 'gainst all accidents that still attend
Our selfish joys, which quickly wane and end.
Beyond all Earth's felicity it seems
Armed 'gainst all accidents that still attend
Our selfish joys, which quickly wane and end.
A Heaven within the living Soul it is,
Which yet can scarce believe in its own bliss,
And bound and girdled by its clayey chain,
Can scarce the immeasurable joy contain!
Which yet can scarce believe in its own bliss,
And bound and girdled by its clayey chain,
Can scarce the immeasurable joy contain!
I am contented with thy love for me,
Though slight, though faint, compared with mine for thee,
And solely for thine own more precious weal
I fain would teach thee as I feel to feel!
Though slight, though faint, compared with mine for thee,
And solely for thine own more precious weal
I fain would teach thee as I feel to feel!
96
Fain would I thus thy dear existence bless
With this supreme illustrious Happiness!
And only for thine own beloved sake,
In thee would I an equal Passion wake!
With this supreme illustrious Happiness!
And only for thine own beloved sake,
In thee would I an equal Passion wake!
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