Adelaida or, Letters, &c. of Madame Von Regenburg. To which are added, Poems. By Lady E. S. Wortley |
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SONG.—TO NINA. |
 | Adelaida |  |
SONG.—TO NINA.
FROM THE SPANISH.
“Yo las falacias
No se de amor,
Es mi Sistema,
Un Si o no;
A ti quiero Niña
Con fino ardor.
Templa este fuego,
Con si o no!
Di me ya pronto
El no o Si!”
No se de amor,
Es mi Sistema,
Un Si o no;
A ti quiero Niña
Con fino ardor.
Templa este fuego,
Con si o no!
Di me ya pronto
El no o Si!”
I
I know not of Love,All the witcheries and wiles,—
Nor may melt thee, and move,
With his sighs or his smiles,
310
Should we pause then?—Oh! never!—
Be thou mine!—or we sever,
Sweet!—my System is ever,
Yes or No!—Yes or No!
II
Thee,—Nina!—I love!—Must this swelling heart burst?
Ah!—the Passion I prove,
Is of Passions the first!
But still Time's stream must flow,—
And while thus I am sighing,
Brief Life still is flying,
Deepest feelings are dying,
Say—then say—Yes, or No!
III
Look on me!—death-black eyes!—While my pale lip must pour,
All the passionate sighs
Of deep Love,—more and more,—
311
While those dark eyes are shining,
And my darker heart pining,
Life's fair days are declining,
Say—Oh! say—Yes,—or No!
IV
Endless Sorrows are mine,And Hope fades in my heart,
For its life all is thine,
And our doom seems to part.
But still Time's stream must flow!—
And while thus I am wailing,
Love's own rare charm is failing,
And Life's glad star is paling,
Quick—Oh! quick—Yes, or No!
V
Must I fly?—must we part?Must my days deathward roll?
With thy voice in my heart,
And thy look on my soul!
312
While thus I am burning,
And Nina!—thou'rt spurning,
Fleets sad life, unreturning,
Then say Yes—Yes, or No!
VI
Lingereth ever my care,Saddeneth ever my thought;
Till the gloom of Despair
To my soul must be brought.
And still Time's stream shall flow—
While thus I am plaining,
And Joy's suns are waning,
Care—but care is remaining—
Ah!—then say—Yes, or No!
VII
The heart that thus loves,Wilt thou torture and try?
Till the anguish it proves,
Makes it madden,—or die?
313
While in pain I am pouring,
All the deep sighs imploring,
Of a perfect adoring,—
Yes or No!—Yes or No!
VIII
Could another love thee,Like this heart's burning core;
Half my sorrow should flee,
But who thus could adore?
And still Time's stream must flow,—
While my full heart is heaving,
And my spirit is grieving,
Fate, her dark web is weaving,
Say—Oh! say—Yes, or No!
IX
By the light of thine eyesI must walk the dull earth!—
Or for me, summer's skies,
Were but darkness and dearth!—
314
Flow, as my thoughts are rushing,
All to thee wildly gushing,
Still half faded,—half flushing,—
Yes or No?—Yes or No?
X
If 'tis No!—then the tombSoon shall heal every wound;
If 'tis Yes!—then my doom
Shall be joy without bound!
But still Time's stream must flow,—
While our souls, Joy is sunning,
And our hearts, Care is shunning,
Fast that stream shall be running,
Yes or No?—Yes or No?
XI
Ah!—a smile, full of light,On my soul falleth fair;
And my thoughts grow too bright,
That were dark with despair!
315
But we, we—still are dreaming,
Of joys ever beaming,
Nor heed thy dull streaming,
No or Yes?—No or—YES?
| Adelaida | |