With heavy anguish, hopeless straining, The bonds of love I would remove. Oh, to be loosed from their enchaining! Oh, freedom, only not to love! The soul that shame and fear are scourging Crawls through a mist of dust and blood. From dust, great God, my spirit purging, Oh, spare me from love's bitter flood! Is pity's wall alone unshaken? I pray to God, I cry in vain, More weary, by all hope forsaken; Resistless love grows great again. There is no freedom, unforgiven, We live as slaves, by life consumed; We perish, tortured, bound and driven, Promised to death, and to love—doomed. |