Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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NEVER THINK I LOVE. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
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NEVER THINK I LOVE.
Let, let me ever gaze on thee!
Nor check me, chide me, nor reprove;
Unmoved my mute devotion see,
And think not—never think I love.
Nor check me, chide me, nor reprove;
Unmoved my mute devotion see,
And think not—never think I love.
I'll gaze on thee, as pictured saints
For ever lift their eyes above;
Until my soul with rapture faints;—
But never, never think I love.
For ever lift their eyes above;
Until my soul with rapture faints;—
But never, never think I love.
Thus let me listen to each word
That from thy gentle lips may flow;
That thrills my bosom's inmost chord
With mingled fear, and joy, and woe!
That from thy gentle lips may flow;
That thrills my bosom's inmost chord
With mingled fear, and joy, and woe!
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And at thy side, for evermore,
Let me, e'en like thy shadow, move;
And deeply, breathlessly adore;—
Yet think not, think not that I love!
Let me, e'en like thy shadow, move;
And deeply, breathlessly adore;—
Yet think not, think not that I love!
I fear that such a thought should come,
And dawn upon thy startled mind!
Lest thou shouldst seal my hopeless doom,
Lest thou shouldst haply be unkind.
And dawn upon thy startled mind!
Lest thou shouldst seal my hopeless doom,
Lest thou shouldst haply be unkind.
It might thy hate, not love, arouse—
Thy scorn, and not thy pity move;
Hear many another one's rash vows—
But never, never think I love.
Thy scorn, and not thy pity move;
Hear many another one's rash vows—
But never, never think I love.
Call it by any other name,
And let me dwell beside thee still;
And I will shroud the eternal flame,
And bend my feelings to my will.
And let me dwell beside thee still;
And I will shroud the eternal flame,
And bend my feelings to my will.
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Oh! call it what thou wilt, but yet
Let me brood o'er the unmeasured bliss:
Fate, take from me all else—still let
My heart love on—I ask but this.
Let me brood o'er the unmeasured bliss:
Fate, take from me all else—still let
My heart love on—I ask but this.
And let me, dear one, by thy side,
For ever like thy shadow move—
(While I the intense emotion hide)—
But never, never think I love.
For ever like thy shadow move—
(While I the intense emotion hide)—
But never, never think I love.
Take my devotions's homage still,
Nor blame, nor check it, nor reprove;
Call it whate'er may suit thy will,—
But never, never call it love!
Nor blame, nor check it, nor reprove;
Call it whate'er may suit thy will,—
But never, never call it love!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |