Address to Love

Love! mighty Love! at length I'm thine!
Yet, would I not from all conceal,
Nor yet to all confess, the zeal
With which I bend before thy shrine!
No—I thy empire would disown
To every heart, save one alone.

I would a veil of coldness wear,
Which only one bright glance should pierce;
And when I sing my tender verse
In many a kind, attentive ear,
I still would have each meaning tone
Be understood by one alone.

But though I now desire to hide
The wound, inflicted by thy dart,
From all save one responsive heart,
To which I draw the veil aside;
Still Fate some trials may ordain,
Of power to make me boast my chain.

Should he, for whom my cheek is pale,
Be to reverse of fortune born,
Meet from the world unfeeling scorn,
And vainly tell a mournful tale;
Then would I throw disguise aside,
Then would my passion be my pride.

For him I would all trials bear,
With him the world's gay pleasures fly;
And with thy fond attentions try
To make him feel retirement dear;
Then should this truth, O Love! be known,
I'd live and die for one alone.