You Told Me That You Loved Me

When summer's rosy twilight fell, Upon yon river's gentle swell, Leading the spirit by its song, As through the land it sweeps along;

We watched the stars, those worlds of love, That swim yon azure seas above— We heard each other's heart-pulse beat, In unison divinely sweet.

Your virgin hand was laid in mine, I gazed into your spirit's shrine: We lost the sense of stars and earth, And of the dancing waters' mirth:

We only saw each other then; We look'd as if no more again, And our tumultuous hearts should die, In that wild dream of ecstasy.

I clasped you to my bosom there, I played with your dishevell'd hair; And then the thoughts which long had slept Within us, waken'd; and we wept.

We wept to think of what had past— The doubt—the trial—joy at last— We wept to think of mournful fears— We wept to hail the future years.

I ceased to shed such happy tears, I whisper'd comfort in your ears, I press'd you closer to my heart, Till mine no more could throb apart.

But then we smiled, we laughed to feel The heaven which deep love can reveal; We laughed that Love had ever bound, His golden bands our souls around!

Do you not know the boundless bliss Which follows true love's lightning kiss; For, in that hour with heaven above, Your cheeks, your mouth received my love.

And when that deep, blest trance was o'er, And we could clasp and kiss no more; Love's dear confessions had been made, And we no more could be afraid;

When Angels' pens had writ the vow Which nothing can dissever now; Our hearts return'd to Nature's face, To planets, and the waters' race.

All, all was calm; all, all was bright; The moon was climbing to yon height, Of Heaven's blue cone, rough round with stars, With Venus—but no angry Mars.