| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | Song: ‘I feed a flame within, which so torments me’ | | By John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| | | I FEED 1 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 than 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 show it. | |
| Not a sigh, nor 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 this to give him quiet, | |
| My faith rewards my love, though he deny it. | |
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| On his eyes will I gaze, and there delight me; | |
| While 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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