I Do confess, in many a sigh My lips have breathed you many a lie, And who, with such delights in view, Would lose them, for a lie or two? Nay -- look not thus, with brow reproving; Lies are, my dear, the soul of loving! If half we tell the girls were true, If half we swear to think and do, Were aught but lying's bright illusion, The world would be in strange confusion! If ladies' eyes were, every one, As lovers swear, a radiant sun, Astronomy should leave the skies, To learn her lore in ladies' eyes! Oh, no! -- believe me, lovely girl, When Nature turns your teeth to pearl, Your neck to snow, your eyes to fire, Your yellow locks to golden wire, Then, only then, can Heaven decree, That you should live for only me, Or I for you, as night and morn, We've swearing kiss'd, and kissing sworn! And now, my gentle hints to clear, For once, I'll tell you truth, my dear! Whenever you may chance to meet A loving youth, whose love is sweet, Long as you're false, and he believes you, Long as you trust, and he deceives you, So long the blissful bond endures; And while he lies, his heart is yours; But, oh! you've wholly lost the youth The instant that he tells you truth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 91. LOST ON BOTH SIDES by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SCUM O' THE EARTH' by ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER PATROLING BARNEGAT by WALT WHITMAN THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE SWORD by ABU BAKR OF MARRAKESH WHITE FOR MOURNING by AL-FATA AL-KAFIF |