Rebellion

Ah, Faithless! all this winter long

My pain has been thy pastime;

I loved with heart, and soul, and song,--

Thine all the sport, mine all the wrong, --

Beware! it is the last time.

For now I know thee. Thou would'st fain

Thyself undo the darling chain,

And cast me on the world again,

A lonely man, to-morrow!

But no! I swear that must not be!

Thou can'st not, if thou would'st, be free!

Ah! faithless, heartless, thou shalt see

What strength despair can borrow;

And, be it well, or be it ill,

I feel that I must love thee still,

In sin, and shame, and sorrow!

Ah, Cruel! though my love were shown

In strangely silent fashion,

Thou could'st have read it -- thou alone!

In ev'ry glance and ev'ry tone

That told the tale of passion!

Alas! had I more boldly woo'd,

Had I with fiery vows pursued,

Oh! then, perchance, I had subdued

And made thee mine forever!

But, by the bitter fate that drove me,

By ev'ry star that shines above me,

I swear that I will make thee love me

Despite thine own endeavour!

Nor life nor death shall set thee free;

And neither heaven, nor earth, nor sea,

My lot and thine shall sever!