How delicious in the winning
Of a kiss at Love's beginning,
When two mutual hearts are sighing
For the knot there's no untying!
Yet remember,'midst our wooing
Love has bliss, but Love has ruing;
Other smiles may make you fickle,
Tears for other charms may tickle.
Love he comes, and Love, he tarries,
Just as fate our fancy carries;
Longest stays, when sorest chidden;
Laugh and flies, when press'd and bidden.
Bind the sea to slumber stilly,
Bind its odour to the lily,
Bind the aspen ne'er to quiver,
Then bind Love to last forever.
Love's a fire that needs renewal
Of fresh beauty for its fuel:
Love's wing moults when caged and captured,
Only free, he soars enraptured.
Can you keep the bee from ranging
Or the ringdove's neck from changing?
No! nor fetter'd Love from dying
In the knot there's no untying.
Thomas Campbell
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