Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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SUFFER ME BUT TO LOVE THEE. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
259
SUFFER ME BUT TO LOVE THEE.
Suffer me but to love thee—but to pour
My heart's deep feelings forth—a boundless store,
And lay a life's devotion at thy feet,
Hear—hear me now Love's fervent vows repeat.
My heart's deep feelings forth—a boundless store,
And lay a life's devotion at thy feet,
Hear—hear me now Love's fervent vows repeat.
Suffer me but to love thee—but to live
On thy dear looks, and the clear light they give,
And make my Soul a temple bright and lone,
For thee, but thee, and my true heart a throne!
On thy dear looks, and the clear light they give,
And make my Soul a temple bright and lone,
For thee, but thee, and my true heart a throne!
That throne, that temple, shall enduring be,
Their deep foundations deeper than the sea,
And their proud everlasting walls as strong
As the round World—that ages may not wrong.
Their deep foundations deeper than the sea,
And their proud everlasting walls as strong
As the round World—that ages may not wrong.
260
Suffer me but to love thee—but to bring
My heart of hearts—a lowly offering—
And dedicate it deeply unto thee—
Oh! suffer me to love thee boundlessly!
My heart of hearts—a lowly offering—
And dedicate it deeply unto thee—
Oh! suffer me to love thee boundlessly!
A lowly offering Love may be!—but still
Where that is, changeless through life's strife and ill—
Changeless through all—save deepening more and more,
Not lightly should such offering be passed o'er.
Where that is, changeless through life's strife and ill—
Changeless through all—save deepening more and more,
Not lightly should such offering be passed o'er.
Talk ye of bands of Guardian-angels sent
From realms above yon starry firmament—
The steps of mortals pitying to surround,
And ward the dangers off by which they're bound.
From realms above yon starry firmament—
The steps of mortals pitying to surround,
And ward the dangers off by which they're bound.
They need no Guardian Angels from above
To whom Heaven dedicates a human love,
A host of strength is the devoted heart,
Where well it plays its high and zealous part.
To whom Heaven dedicates a human love,
A host of strength is the devoted heart,
Where well it plays its high and zealous part.
261
Suffer me then to love thee—dwell enshrined
A treasured image in my heart and mind,
Whence all unworthy things I must expel,
Because thou deign'st therein ev'n thus to dwell.
A treasured image in my heart and mind,
Whence all unworthy things I must expel,
Because thou deign'st therein ev'n thus to dwell.
If for the loved it may a blessing be
To be thus cherished—while Life's vain years flee—
Ev'n thus to love—love worthily and well,
This is a benefit no words may tell!—
To be thus cherished—while Life's vain years flee—
Ev'n thus to love—love worthily and well,
This is a benefit no words may tell!—
As when some high and honoured guest arrives,
To whom the host a princely welcome gives,
And seeks to please and serve with studied care,
For whom he doth all fitting things prepare—
To whom the host a princely welcome gives,
And seeks to please and serve with studied care,
For whom he doth all fitting things prepare—
So when the all-beloved image comes
To house within love's heart, that best of homes,
The trembling lover strives with anxious will
To banish thence all things unworthy still.
To house within love's heart, that best of homes,
The trembling lover strives with anxious will
To banish thence all things unworthy still.
262
Oh! let me love thee! so shall I aspire
To lift my very spirit high and higher,
Till all my thoughts shall as winged angels be,
That they may bear one bright thought company.
To lift my very spirit high and higher,
Till all my thoughts shall as winged angels be,
That they may bear one bright thought company.
But let me love thee!—so I still shall seek
To chase afar all worthless dreams and weak,
Till all my thoughts like white robed angels be,
That they may dwell with th' Heav'nly thought of thee!
To chase afar all worthless dreams and weak,
Till all my thoughts like white robed angels be,
That they may dwell with th' Heav'nly thought of thee!
Suffer me but to love thee—but to link
My Soul ere yet in Death's great deep I sink—
With something so surpassing, so supreme,
It makes this world one world of glory seem!
My Soul ere yet in Death's great deep I sink—
With something so surpassing, so supreme,
It makes this world one world of glory seem!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |