Sympathy

He.
How sudden love's creation is,
My heart's experience well may deem;
'Tis full of pain, 'tis full of bliss,
A light, mysterious, lovely dream:
A transport heaving in my breast,
A fire that burns my cheeks, a storm
That rocks my heart, and rends my rest—
O love! thou sweetest, saddest form;
Thou complicated maze, that throws
My mind into perplexity!
O soothe it with thy kiss, my rose!
Since for one kiss of love from thee
The world I'd freely give;—but hide
Thy beauties from my anxious glance;
O turn thy little mouth aside,
And veil thy rosy countenance:
Thy swelling hills of purest snow,
Thine arms so round and so enchanting,
Sweet violet! they wound me so,
I dare not look, for light is wanting.
Nay! bend thy lips of love to mine,
And list to songs, tho' sad yet dear:
I languish for a smile of thine,
And tremble, while I hope and fear.

She.
I know that loves grow up unwonted;
My breast, youth! vibrates to thy breast;
My rest, brown boy! is also haunted
By visions such as haunt thy rest:
The sweet, transporting pain, I share it;
Love's mandate, I, like thee, obey;
And if thou bear its weight, I bear it,
And walk with thee its thorny way.
Sweet grief,—sad pleasure—let us dwell
Together, sharing bane and bliss;
And if a kiss can bless us—well!
Take, take, my love! the maiden's kiss!
And these white hills of swelling snow,
And those round arms—if they can bring
A solace or a screen from woe,
Woe soon will fly on hurried wing.
I'll bend my lips of love to thine,
My happiest smile shall light on thee;
Sing not sad songs, dear heart of mine,
But songs of joy and victory.

Both.
Our kiss shall be the pledge of faith,
The pledge of love, the heart's sweet pain;
And each to each here swears that death
Alone shall part our souls again.