Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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PRIDE'S VOW. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
180
PRIDE'S VOW.
I never more will say to thee—
“Be constant, oh! be true!”
Thy heart, thy monitor should be
Absence' dark seasons through!
“Be constant, oh! be true!”
Thy heart, thy monitor should be
Absence' dark seasons through!
I would not have thee love me still,
If this an effort need!
If thy heart to some new touch thrill,
Pray thee, leave mine to bleed!
If this an effort need!
If thy heart to some new touch thrill,
Pray thee, leave mine to bleed!
If labour it to thee should cost,
And vigilance and pains;
Still to love on—that labour's lost,
Such love my Soul disdains!
And vigilance and pains;
Still to love on—that labour's lost,
Such love my Soul disdains!
181
I never more will say to thee,
“Be constant!” ne'er again!—
If thy weak heart can faithless be,
Why, be it faithless, then!—
“Be constant!” ne'er again!—
If thy weak heart can faithless be,
Why, be it faithless, then!—
I have too much of love or pride,
Or both, to wish to chain
A heart that proves, when thus 'tis tried,
So very light and vain!
Or both, to wish to chain
A heart that proves, when thus 'tis tried,
So very light and vain!
If for one moment thou canst feel
Thy love for me decline—
To me at once the truth reveal,
For thy sake and for mine!—
Thy love for me decline—
To me at once the truth reveal,
For thy sake and for mine!—
If for one moment weary grows
Thy heart of loving me,
At once the truth to me disclose,
I charge and counsel thee!
Thy heart of loving me,
At once the truth to me disclose,
I charge and counsel thee!
182
Think not that I can be deceived,
Whatever thou mayst do—
My heart should know it was bereaved,
By instinct deep and true!
Whatever thou mayst do—
My heart should know it was bereaved,
By instinct deep and true!
I charge, and I implore thee, then,
By all thou hold'st most dear—
I pray again and yet again—
By all thou dost revere;—
By all thou hold'st most dear—
I pray again and yet again—
By all thou dost revere;—
Seek not to guard thy heart for me,
If thou shouldst weary grow
Of me and my idolatry—
Nor fear that change to show!
If thou shouldst weary grow
Of me and my idolatry—
Nor fear that change to show!
Oh! tell me all the hideous truth;
I could not be deceived;
The instinctive heart should know, in sooth,—
Should feel it was bereaved!
I could not be deceived;
The instinctive heart should know, in sooth,—
Should feel it was bereaved!
183
I never more will say to thee,
“Be constant, Love! be true!”
Thy heart thy monitor should be,
Dark absence' seasons through!
“Be constant, Love! be true!”
Thy heart thy monitor should be,
Dark absence' seasons through!
But, oh! if thou art true—my love
Shall deepen more and more—
Shall soar its own proud height above—
Thrice nobler than before!
Shall deepen more and more—
Shall soar its own proud height above—
Thrice nobler than before!
Those feelings in my soul shall live,
That have no end nor bound;
Which yet more ardent warmth shall give,
E'en to that soul profound.
That have no end nor bound;
Which yet more ardent warmth shall give,
E'en to that soul profound.
I never more will say to thee,
“Be constant!”—ne'er again,
If thy heart, Love, can faithless be,
Why, be it faithless then!
“Be constant!”—ne'er again,
If thy heart, Love, can faithless be,
Why, be it faithless then!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |