Heaven witness I have been to you ever true and humble. SHAKESPEARE, Henry VIII. Gentle lady, When I did first impart my love to you, I freely told you all the wealth I had. Merchant of Venice. The fatal time Cuts off all ceremonies and vows of love, And ample interchange of sweet discourse, Which so long sunder'd friends should dwell upon. Richard III. I know thee not, old man; fall to thy prayers. Henry IV. Farewell, Thou pure impiety, thou impious purity, For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love. Much Ado about Nothing. ----------------------- Love will expire--the gay, the happy dream Will turn to scorn, indiff'rence, or esteem: Some favour'd pairs, in this exchange, are blest, Nor sigh for raptures in a state of rest; Others, ill match'd, with minds unpair'd, repent At once the deed, and know no more content; From joy to anguish they, in haste, decline, And, with their fondness, their esteem resign; More luckless still their fate, who are the prey Of long-protracted hope and dull delay: 'Mid plans of bliss the heavy hours pass on, Till love is withered, and till joy is gone. This gentle flame two youthful hearts possess'd, The sweet disturber of unenvied rest; The prudent Dinah was the maid beloved, And the kind Rupert was the swain approved: A wealthy Aunt her gentle niece sustain'd, He, with a father, at his desk remain'd; The youthful couple, to their vows sincere, Thus loved expectant; year succeeding year, With pleasant views and hopes, but not a prospect near. Rupert some comfort in his station saw, But the poor virgin lived in dread and awe; Upon her anxious looks the widow smiled, And bade her wait, "for she was yet a child." She for her neighbour had a due respect, Nor would his son encourage or reject; And thus the pair, with expectation vain, Beheld the seasons change and change again; Meantime the nymph her tender tales perused, Where cruel aunts impatient girls refused: While hers, though teasing, boasted to be kind, And she, resenting, to be all resign'd. The dame was sick, and when the youth applied For her consent, she groan'd, and cough'd, and cried, Talk'd of departing, and again her breath Drew hard, and cough'd, and talk'd again of death: "Here may you live, my Dinah! here the boy And you together my estate enjoy:" Thus to the lovers was her mind expressed, Till they forbore to urge the fond request. Servant, and nurse, and comforter, and friend, Dinah had still some duty to attend; But yet their walk, when Rupert's evening call Obtain'd an hour, made sweet amends for all; So long they now each other's thoughts had known, That nothing seem'd exclusively their own: But with the common wish, the mutual fear, They now had travelled to their thirtieth year.