Examination

Now tell me, heart! art thou sincere, or art dissembling still?
Art sporting with my happiness, and trifling with my will?
What sin have I committed? What duty left undone?
Have I been faithless? No! I've been untrue to none!

A thousand, and a thousand times, I pledged to thee my vow;
If I have in a tittle failed, be my accuser now!
Now, while again I swear, through life and time to be
Devoted to thyself, devoted all to thee.

O how I love thy English face! and love no face but thine!
Yes! all but thine, and all but thee, no love shall have of mine.
Return, my love, sweet mind! for such a blest return
Will wake all smiling thoughts, and check all thoughts that mourn.

Here, hovering round thy lovely form, till death shall smite thee, maid;
And dreaming of that better world which death shall ne'er invade.
Sweet thought! which time can bring from blest eternity;
Sweet thought! eternal joy! to dwell in heaven with thee.

Thou bidst me leave thee. Yes! I'll leave, when love grows cold, or I
Can plant another in my breast; or, tired of thee, I die:
Of thee, for whom I all abandon and despise;
Of thee, with whom the rays of pleasure set and rise.

O scorn me not—thy scorn is pour'd on truth, on love—on all
That earth adores, that heaven approves; thy marriage festival
May see a fairer swain—a prouder train may show,
But faithfulness like mine, and fondness, maiden, No!

Yet come what will, and frown what may, I'll worship thee, my fair!
All pains, all pangs, all martyrdoms, for thee I'll voiceless bear.
There is no death I dread, if from its suffering thou
Would rouse thy love's sweet smile and consecrate my vow.