Deign, Sweetheart! deign to take what true love sends

by Edwin Arnold

Deign, Sweetheart! deign to take what true love sends,
Its daily gift set fair in gentle song;
Where---if verse fail---heart's faith would make amends,
So earnest, speech, at best, must do it wrong.

All lonely as I sit, a fancy raised
Lightens the heavy hour's dull incompleteness:---
"Why is she sweet and good save to be praised,
Or I a singer save to praise her sweetness?"

Some whisper from the Silence! Who can say?
Poets, before, have found new music so!
At least, hereby, what I thought, day by day,
Your eyes will read, and tender breast will know.

And all spheres, Dear! are servants unto Love;
And all things in the world obey a Poet;
And once---they say---the letter Yod did move,
And cried aloud to Heav'n---Mishna doth show it!

Therefore I bid these Letters---each of them---
Be messengers of splendour to you now;
Each minion casting at your feet some gem
Worthy your white neck, or your arm, or brow.

If one should falter---if one fail herein---
Denounce the traitor! It shall surely bring
Ill to that slave, as when an Arab Djin
Vexed Suleiman, or mocked Aladdin's ring!