Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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HOW CANST THOU WEARY OF MY LOVE? |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
HOW CANST THOU WEARY OF MY LOVE?
How canst thou weary of my Love
Which doth through endless changes move?
Ever in my quick mind and me
Shalt thou meet dear Variety!
Which doth through endless changes move?
Ever in my quick mind and me
Shalt thou meet dear Variety!
251
No two thoughts in my heart or brain,
Be they of Pleasure or of Pain,
Were ever yet alike—or bound
With chains of measuring links around.
Be they of Pleasure or of Pain,
Were ever yet alike—or bound
With chains of measuring links around.
Need'st thou this truth then to be taught?
Think'st thou the changes rung on thought
Are like the changes rung on bells,
Whose various music sinks or swells?
Think'st thou the changes rung on thought
Are like the changes rung on bells,
Whose various music sinks or swells?
The bells themselves are still the same—
My very Mind's ethereal frame—
Swift as the uncounted moments fly,
Is altering everlastingly!
My very Mind's ethereal frame—
Swift as the uncounted moments fly,
Is altering everlastingly!
On bells—these varying harmonies
From source of varying order rise,
At length the whole may be run through!
My Soul and Mind are ever new!
From source of varying order rise,
At length the whole may be run through!
My Soul and Mind are ever new!
252
Thou need'st not range—thou need'st not rove
To seek each day a different love,
Thou'lt still find in my mind and me,
A never-checked diversity!
To seek each day a different love,
Thou'lt still find in my mind and me,
A never-checked diversity!
Thou need'st not rove—thou need'st not range
To seek incessant endless change;
Oh! where wilt thou such variance find,
As in my ever varying Mind?
To seek incessant endless change;
Oh! where wilt thou such variance find,
As in my ever varying Mind?
If thou didst love me yesterday,
To-day thou must a false part play
If still thou lov'st, since I no more
The Being am I was before!
To-day thou must a false part play
If still thou lov'st, since I no more
The Being am I was before!
If thus thou'rt therefore true to me,
Thy constancy's inconstancy!
Thyself thou scarcely conscious art,
Of what she is that rules thy heart!
Thy constancy's inconstancy!
Thyself thou scarcely conscious art,
Of what she is that rules thy heart!
253
Then how canst thou e'er weary be
Of my unbounded love for thee?
My love for thee, that varies still,
But yet can know no check nor chill.
Of my unbounded love for thee?
My love for thee, that varies still,
But yet can know no check nor chill.
Since it ev'n changeth day by day—
Yet keeps its own triumphant way!—
My love may change—but still 'tis love,
All language and all thought above!
Yet keeps its own triumphant way!—
My love may change—but still 'tis love,
All language and all thought above!
It changeth—though so deep, so true,
And ever wears an aspect new;
It changeth fast as moments fly,
But yet 'tis love unchangeably!
And ever wears an aspect new;
It changeth fast as moments fly,
But yet 'tis love unchangeably!
Now in rich eloquence 'twould shower
The passion-hurricanes of power;
Now shrink in silence—mild and meek—
Nor seek, nor wish its truth to speak!
The passion-hurricanes of power;
Now shrink in silence—mild and meek—
Nor seek, nor wish its truth to speak!
254
Now 'twould, in lowliest guise, repress
The jealousies of tenderness;
Now, in a haughty burst of ire,
'Twould feed and fan the raging fire!
The jealousies of tenderness;
Now, in a haughty burst of ire,
'Twould feed and fan the raging fire!
No! never canst thou weary be
Of my devoted love for thee:
No measured tenour doth it keep—
Though all devoted still—and deep!
Of my devoted love for thee:
No measured tenour doth it keep—
Though all devoted still—and deep!
No dull monotony is there,
Though strong as death, 'tis light as air:
Not thus may change the inconstant moon—
The rainbow varieth not so soon.
Though strong as death, 'tis light as air:
Not thus may change the inconstant moon—
The rainbow varieth not so soon.
The clouds may never change so fast;
The rocks may ne'er so strongly last;
Varying as water is my love,
Eternal as the sun above!
The rocks may ne'er so strongly last;
Varying as water is my love,
Eternal as the sun above!
255
Say, then, canst thou e'er weary be
Of my surpassing love for thee?
No, never, never shalt thou prove
Weary of me, or of my love!
Of my surpassing love for thee?
No, never, never shalt thou prove
Weary of me, or of my love!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |