The Wife's Will.

Sit still, a word, a breath may break     (As light airs stir a sleeping lake)     The glassy calm that soothes my woes,     The sweet, the deep, the full repose.     O leave me not! for ever be     Thus, more than life itself to me!     Yes, close beside thee let me kneel,     Give me thy hand, that I may feel     The friend so true, so tried, so dear,     My heart's own chosen, indeed is near;     And check me not, this hour divine     Belongs to me, is fully mine.     'Tis thy own hearth thou sitt'st beside,     After long absence, wandering wide;     'Tis thy own wife reads in thine eyes     A promise clear of stormless skies;     For faith and true love light the rays     Which shine responsive to her gaze.     Ay, well that single tear may fall;     Ten thousand might mine eyes recall,     Which from their lids ran blinding fast,     In hours of grief, yet scarcely past;     Well mayst thou speak of love to me,     For, oh!    most truly, I love thee!     Yet smile, for we are happy now.     Whence, then, that sadness on thy brow?     What sayst thou?" We muse once again,     Ere long, be severed by the main!"     I knew not this, I deemed no more     Thy step would err from Britain's shore.     "Duty commands!" 'Tis true, 'tis just;     Thy slightest word I wholly trust,     Nor by request, nor faintest sigh,     Would I to turn thy purpose try;     But, William, hear my solemn vow,     Hear and confirm! with thee I go.     "Distance and suffering," didst thou say?     "Danger by night, and toil by day?"     Oh, idle words and vain are these;     Hear me! I cross with thee the seas.     Such risk as thou must meet and dare,     I, thy true wife, will duly share.     Passive, at home, I will not pine;     Thy toils, thy perils shall be mine;     Grant this, and be hereafter paid     By a warm heart's devoted aid:     'Tis granted, with that yielding kiss,     Entered my soul unmingled bliss.     Thanks, William, thanks! thy love has joy,     Pure, undefiled with base alloy;     'Tis not a passion, false and blind,     Inspires, enchains, absorbs my mind;     Worthy, I feel, art thou to be     Loved with my perfect energy.     This evening now shall sweetly flow,     Lit by our clear fire's happy glow;     And parting's peace-embittering fear,     Is warned our hearts to come not near;     For fate admits my soul's decree,     In bliss or bale, to go with thee!