My hope—my shattered hope; but still, my hope!
My love—my blighted love; but still, my love!
My life—my ruined life; but still my life!
Forgive me, Ethais: thou hast withdrawn
The very core and substance of thy love.
No matter! give me but the empty husk,
And it will stay the famine of my heart.
I’ll work and toil for thee—I’ll be thy slave,
Thine humble, silent, and submissive slave;
I’ll come but at thy beck—I will not speak,