"Speak! darling, speak!" I wildly cried.
"Pray, come back from the voiceless shore.
I cannot, dare not live an hour,
Unless I hear your voice once more!"
She opened wide her lovely eyes,
And cast on me one lingering glance
So full of injured innocence
It smote me like a lance.
I seized the heartless letter,
Curst cause of all my shame,
And, with one imprecation,
Consigned it to the flame.
She watched me with a languid smile,
And pointed to her heart:
"You have destroyed the proof," she said,
"But can you ease the smart?"
"I have been true to all my vows,
Heaven judge me if I lie!
But since you deem me to be false,
Go—leave me here—to die!"