Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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I KNOW I LOVE THEE.
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
I KNOW I LOVE THEE.
FROM “INEZ,” A MS. POEM.
I know I love thee far too much,
Yet count not this a crime—
I own it is a love that stands
'Gainst trials and 'gainst time.—
Yet count not this a crime—
I own it is a love that stands
'Gainst trials and 'gainst time.—
Thou shouldst be loved—but oh! not thus
Thou mock'st at Constancy!—
And I—I cannot change nor yet
Resent a change in thee!—
Thou mock'st at Constancy!—
And I—I cannot change nor yet
Resent a change in thee!—
156
Forgive my loving thee too much—
And, oh! in pity spare;
Is't my fault I was born to love,
Or my fault thou art fair?
And, oh! in pity spare;
Is't my fault I was born to love,
Or my fault thou art fair?
Is't my fault that too much I feel—
For my own joy or peace;
Wrap thy false heart in triple steel—
But let my love ne'er cease!
For my own joy or peace;
Wrap thy false heart in triple steel—
But let my love ne'er cease!
Oh! that a thousand long, long years
I had been born before
That bright star blazed out on the world,
Which I am doom'd to adore—
I had been born before
That bright star blazed out on the world,
Which I am doom'd to adore—
Or that a thousand long years hence
I might look on the light—
When that transcendant star is set
That blinds and blasts my sight.—
I might look on the light—
When that transcendant star is set
That blinds and blasts my sight.—
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But I can wish not one dear charm
That decks thy form, away—
No, rather let me thus despair,
Thus languish day by day.
That decks thy form, away—
No, rather let me thus despair,
Thus languish day by day.
I wish thee not one charm to lose,
One charm—one witching grace—
Time! cast no shadow of a change
O'er that loved form or face!—
One charm—one witching grace—
Time! cast no shadow of a change
O'er that loved form or face!—
Be beautiful, be perfect still
As now, e'en now, thou art,
Though every charm that thou possess—
Strike death into my heart.
As now, e'en now, thou art,
Though every charm that thou possess—
Strike death into my heart.
Be perfect and be beautiful,
And move triumphant on—
More lovely yet—if that can be—
Let me be more undone!
And move triumphant on—
More lovely yet—if that can be—
Let me be more undone!
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Let me love on whate'er the tax,
The punishment and pain
Freedom, and happiness, and peace
To me were loss—not gain.—
The punishment and pain
Freedom, and happiness, and peace
To me were loss—not gain.—
And, oh! forgive me for my fate!—
Forgive me that I feel!—
Let me still love thee—and despair—
Hear—hear my Heart's appeal!
Forgive me that I feel!—
Let me still love thee—and despair—
Hear—hear my Heart's appeal!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |