Romantic

On the Quotation,

34 linesEnglandSource: PoetryDB

"And my true faith can alter never,

Though thou art gone perhaps for ever."


And "thy true faith can alter never?"--

Indeed it lasted for a--week!

I know the length of Love's forever,

And just expected such a freak.

In peace we met, in peace we parted,

In peace we vowed to meet again,

And though I find thee fickle-hearted

No pang of mine shall make thee vain.


One gone--'twas time to seek a second;

In sooth 'twere hard to blame thy haste.

And whatsoe'er thy love be reckoned,

At least thou hast improved in taste:

Though one was young, the next was younger,

His love was new, mine too well known--

And what might make the charm still stronger,

The youth was present, I was flown.


Seven days and nights of single sorrow!

Too much for human constancy!

A fortnight past, why then to-morrow,

His turn is come to follow me:

And if each week you change a lover,

And so have acted heretofore,

Before a year or two is over

We'll form a very pretty _corps_.


Adieu, fair thing! without upbraiding

I fain would take a decent leave;

Thy beauty still survives unfading,

And undeceived may long deceive.

With him unto thy bosom dearer

Enjoy the moments as they flee;

I only wish his love sincerer

Than thy young heart has been to me.