Poems (Craik)/Plighted

by Dinah Maria Craik

PLIGHTED.

INE to the core of the heart, my beauty!
Mine, all mine, and for love, not duty:
Love given willingly, full and free,
Love for love's sake—as mine to thee.
   Duty's a slave that keeps the keys,
But Love, the master, goes in and out
Of his goodly chambers with song and shout,
   Just as he please—just as he please.

Mine, from the dear head's crown, brown-golden,
To the silken foot that 's scarce beholden;
Give to a,few friends hand or smile,
Like a generous lady, now and awhile,
   But the sanctuary heart, that none dare win,
Keep holiest of holiest evermore;
The crowd in the aisles may watch the door,
   The high-priest only enters in.

Mine, my own, without doubts or terrors,
With all thy goodnesses, all thy errors,
Unto me and to me alone revealed,
"A spring shut up, a fountain sealed."
   Many may praise thee—praise mine as thine,
Many may love thee—I 'll love them too;
But thy heart of hearts, pure, faithful, and true,
   Must be mine, mine wholly, and only mine.

Mine!—God, I thank Thee that Thou hast given
Something all mine on this side heaven:
Something as much myself to be
As this my soul which I lift to Thee:
   Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone,
Life of my life, whom Thou dost make
Two to the world for the world's work's sake—
   But each unto each, as in Thy sight, one.