Meeting Again

I.
Your eyes were burning with wild love and woe ;
They seared my inmost heart :
We knew, we knew too well that I must go,
Yet could not bear to part

II.
We did not blame each other ; that worst gall
Of common sin was spared ;
Nor vindicate ourselves : confessing all,
In silence each despaired.

III.
One yearning overwhelmed all strength and hope,-
That then and there we might
Sink down, embracing, under heaven's cope,
Engulfed in death's deep night.

IV.
And now again, after long bitter years,
We are allowed to meet,
And mingle henceforth all our sighs and tears
While these two hearts shall beat :

V.
I from that fearful world where I was cast
Among the multitude,
To expiate the inexpiable Past
By constant doing good :

VI.
You from the sterner solitary life,
By woe and sin possessed,
And waging with them constant deadly strife
Within thine own poor breast.

VII.
Ah ! can you really love me, whom you know
So weak and foul of yore ?
Dear heart ! / feel that evil long-ago
But makes me love you more.

VIII.
Yet still that longing almost swayeth me, —
That we should sink down deep,
And side by side, from life's sore burthen free,
Sleep death's eternal sleep.