How delicious is 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 your wooing,
Love has bliss, but Love has ruing;
Other smiles may make you fickle,
Tears for other charms may trickle.
Love he comes, and Love he tarries,
Just as fate or fancy carries;
Longest stays, when sorest chidden;
Laughs 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 for ever.
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.