Dear! let me die in this fair breast!
Far sweeter than the Phœnix nest.
Love! raise Desire by his sweet charms,
Within this circle of thine arms!
And let thy blissful kisses cherish
Mine infant joys! that else must perish!
To ask for all thy love, and thy whole heart,
'twere madness!
I do not sue
Nor can admit,
Fairest! from you
To have all!
Yet who giveth all, hath nothing to impart
but sadness!
He that receiveth all, can have no more
than seeing.
My love, by length
Of every hour,
Gathers new strength!
New growth! new flower!
You must have daily new rewards in store,
still being.
You cannot, every day, give me your heart
for merit!
Yet, if you will,
When yours doth go,
You shall have still
One to bestow!
For you shall mine, when yours doth part,
inherit!
Yet, if you please, I'll find a better way,
than change them.
For so, alone,
Dearest! we shall
Be one! and one
Another's all!
Let us so join our hearts, that nothing may
estrange them!
