The Voice [drawing nearer with each couplet.
When thou dost laugh, beloved,
Love shines in thy dear eyes
And harassing suspicion
Unfolds its wings and flies.
Ah! loyal laughter proveth
Heart open as the day—
Laugh, my beloved,
For ever and for aye!
When thou dost sleep, beloved,
So calm and pure thou art,
Thy breath soft words doth murmur,
Like music to my heart.
Unveiled and unapparelled,
Thou'rt fairer than the day—
Sleep, my beloved
For ever and for aye!
When thou dost say: "I love thee!"
Oh! then, my love, meseems
That Heaven itself, above us,
Lies open to my dreams!
Thy glance doth gleam resplendent
With love's divinest ray—
Love, my beloved,
For ever and for aye!
Thus all my life, beloved,
Do those four words contain;
All blessings that men envy,
All blessings without pain.
