Set me wheras the sun doth parch the green,
Or where his beams may not dissolve the ice,
In temperate heat, where she is felt and seen;
With proud people, in presence sad and wise,
Set me in base, or yet in high degree;
In the long night, or in the shortest day;
In clear weather, or where mists thickest be;
In lusty youth, or when my hairs be gray'
Set me in the earth, in heaven, or yet in hell;
In hill, in dale, or in the foaming flood;
Thrall, or at large-alive whereso I dwell;
Sick or in health, in ill fame or in good,
Yours will I be, and with that only thought
Comfort myself when that my hap is naught.
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies'
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
While heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
While waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
so soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Place grew they cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.
The dew of the morning
Sunk hill on my brow-
If felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are broken,
and light is they fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
and share in its shame.
They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me -
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well-
Long, long shall I rue thee
Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met-
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
They spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?-
With silence and tears.
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