| John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913. | | | | Songs from the Plays | | “I Feed a Flame within which so torments me,” from The Maiden Queen |
| | | I FEED a Flame within which so torments me | |
| That it both pains my heart, and yet contents me: | |
| ’Tis such a pleasing smart and I so love it, | |
| That I had rather die, then once remove it. | |
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| Yet he for whom I grieve shall never know it, | 5 |
| My tongue does not betray, nor my eyes shew it: | |
| Not a sigh not a tear my pain discloses, | |
| But they fall silently like dew on Roses. | |
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| Thus to prevent my love from being cruel, | |
| My heart’s the sacrifice as ’tis the fuel: | 10 |
| And while I suffer thus to give him quiet, | |
| My faith rewards my love, tho he deny it. | |
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| On his eyes will I gaze, and there delight me; | |
| Where I conceal my love, no frown can fright me: | |
| To be more happy I dare not aspire; | 15 |
| Nor can I fall more low, mounting no higher. | | | | |
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