The Silken Tassel/Love and Will
Love and Will
I will not love thee: yes, and if I can,
I’ll sweep the floor of Memory clean of thee,
Where worshipp’d once my heart so fervently
The little idol, in whose little span
I’ll sweep the floor of Memory clean of thee,
Where worshipp’d once my heart so fervently
The little idol, in whose little span
My Heaven and Earth appear’d to meet and plan
A world of unalloyèd revelry,
And in whose hands I dream’d, to find the key
To solve my fate, and my soul’s height to scan.
A world of unalloyèd revelry,
And in whose hands I dream’d, to find the key
To solve my fate, and my soul’s height to scan.
And every morn will bring a ray of light,
And every eve will send a whisper low,
And every night upon her page will write
And every eve will send a whisper low,
And every night upon her page will write
The self-same tale from all her stars aglow:
Let them alone! My Will now knows its might:
I will not love thee.—Heart! did I say so ?
Let them alone! My Will now knows its might:
I will not love thee.—Heart! did I say so ?