Absence

Three years, Almira, has our Souls been join'd,
For what's true Love but mingling of the mind?
To say w'are the same flesh is far too low
T'express the Faith we to each other show:
Ev'n Friendship burns but faint, not worth a name,
When 'tis compar'd with our more mutual flame,
And not so well deserves Immortal Fame.
In thy dear Arms my Cares were always eas'd,
Nor cou'd I ever grieve when you were pleas'd;
Still so concern'd, so studious of your good,
For every tear you shed my Heart wept blood.
Nor was your Passion, dear Almira, less,
Too strong to warp, too mighty to express,
A languishing, a lasting, lambent flame,
Bright as thy Eyes, untainted as thy fame,
Fresh as the dawn when first Aurora springs,
And soft as Down upon an Angel's Wings
Such was our Love, so we, entranc't, did live,
Contented, and what more had Heav'n to give?
Blest were these hours, and Ah! they swiftly flew,
But who e're kept soft pleasure long in view?
For since our Hearts were one by mutual vow,
We never knew what absence was till now;
Ne'r knew what 'twas to wander all alone,
Ly by a murmuring Brook on Moss, or Stone,
And make the list'ning stream attend our mone,
With sharp complaint the neighb'ring Air to wound,
And tire kind Echo with the mournful sound;
Ne're knew what 'twas at dead of night, distrest,
(When silence does invite the World to rest)
With sighs abrupt to think on our late Joy,
Which we once thought ill Fate cou'd not destroy;
Ah foolish thought! let none hereafter be
So fond to assure themselves Felicity;
If we, in whom unsully'd Love did reign,
Cou'd not be priviledg'd from hateful pain,
For others to expect a kinder Fate is vain.
Not through past Ages can a pair be found,
Whose truth deserves more nobly to be crown'd,
Or will in after Days be more renown'd.
To lay down Life for her dear sake I love,
Though great, were far too small my Faith to prove;
I cou'd, nor doubt I but your love's like mine,
Endanger ev'n my Soul to rescue thine,
Nor does in this ought that's profane appear;
For Heav'n wou'd not be Heav'n, were not Almira there;
Though I enjoy'd what cou'd on Man befal,
All that in this world wise men happy call,
Absence from thee wou'd turn those sweets to gall.
Think then thou lovely Partner of my heart,
Lovely I call thee, lovely without Art,
Lovelier than those that ly in Princes Arms;
For she that's vertuous has ten thousand Charms.
O think if absence can such woe create,
What 'tis I suffer from relentless fate!
Unhappy shou'd we be, indeed, and know
No ebb of grief, but a perpetual flow,
If unkind Fortune longer shou'd conspire,
With inauspicious hands, to cancel our desire:
But, thanks to Heav'n, their kindly Influence
Our Stars begin, in pity, to dispence:
For the time's nigh that will redeem our harms,
And bring us, blest! to one anothers Arms.
Fly then, ye minutes, you that grace the van
Be quick as thought, and lead the following on;
And you succeeding moments ('tis no crime
When once you enter the cariere of time)
That you the sooner may our Peace restore,
Push on the sluggards that took flight before.
And thou, my Soul, no more at Fate repine,
No longer blame decrees that are Divine;
Compose thy Griefs against thy Joys return,
For when thou art at rest, Almira will not mourn.