If E'er I Am Thine

If e'er I am thine, the birds of the air,
The beasts of the field, and fish of the sea,
Shall in our love and happiness share,
Within their elements fair and free,
And rejoice because I am thine, love.

We'll have no flowers, nor words of love,
Nor dreams of bliss that never can be ;
Our trust shall be in Heaven above,
Our hope in a far futurity
Must arise, when I am made thine, love.

And this shall raise our thoughts more high
Than visions of vanity here below ;
For chequer 'd through life our path must lie,-
Mid gleams of joy and shades of woe
We must journey, when I am thine, love.