WHY SHOULD I LOVE THEE?
Reading edition
———
BY JOHN S. DU SOLLE.
———
Why should I love thee? Thou so altered!
So cold! so passionless! The hand
Which erst so much at parting faltered—
The cheek which blushed at meeting—and
The eyes whose eloquent depths of jet,
So much of silence could redeem—
They haunt me with their sweetness yet,
But, oh! how changed they seem!
Why should I love thee, thou false-hearted?
Thou smil’st, but smil’st no more for me!
The bloom hath not thy lip departed,
Thy voice hath still its witchery.
But looks and words, though they bewitch me,
Can paint no love, where love is not;
Thy very kindnesses but teach me
How much I am forgot!
Why should I love thee? Why repine?
Thy lip some other fond lip presses;
Thine arm some other’s arms entwine;
Thy cheek some other cheek caresses;
And though to part with thee be sadness,
Oh! God! how difficult to bear,
To hope to win thee now were madness!
To love thee were despair!