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| I WOULD be a goddess in | |
| The light of those dear eyes | |
| Apt to hold you as to win, | |
| All-beautiful, all-wise. | |
| Pray you wherefore should you deem | 5 |
| This a vain and idle dream? | |
| Purblind love that cannot see | |
| That woman still to man may be | |
| Whatever she can seem! | |
| |
| I would win your tender trust, | 10 |
| But not to keep you still | |
| Kneeling lowly in the dust, | |
| Obedient to my will; | |
| Nor to surfeit all my days | |
| On the nectar of your praise; | 15 |
| Or to hear it sung so high | |
| That the idle passer-by | |
| Paused to hear your lays. | |
| |
| I but ask you for your faith | |
| That, wounded by the herd, | 20 |
| I may bring you healing with | |
| The magic of a word. | |
| Pray you to believe me so | |
| That in darkness, doubt, or woe, | |
| I may guide you when you grope, | 25 |
| Light you with my stronger hope, | |
| Warm you with my glow. | |
| |
| I would have you love me well, | |
| That, fainting in the strife, | |
| Kiss of mine should be a spell, | 30 |
| To win you back to life; | |
| Love me so that day or night, | |
| I could hide the world from sight, | |
| Keep it out with woven arms, | |
| Or subdue it with my charms, | 35 |
| As a goddess might! | |
| |
| Love! my worth will wax or wane | |
| As your light shall shine, | |
| Now a homely thing, or vain, | |
| Now almost divine. | 40 |
| Lorn of love, my hands hang down, | |
| I am nothing when you frown; | |
| Hold me fair, and keep me great, | |
| With your faithfulness for state, | |
| And your love for crown! | 45 |
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