Away, away ! thou kneel'st in vain,
I will not hear thy plea;
'Tis worse than useless, fawning one,
To bend the knee to me !
Too late, too late those earnest vows
Are offered at love's shrine;
Though flowing from thy heart, they wake
No answering tone in mine.
Away, away ! I loved thee once
With all a woman's soul;
Thou read'st it in the varying blush
That would not brook control.
And thou didst smile a strange, cold smile
Whene'er our glances met
That almost crushed my young life out,—
Think'st thou I can forget?
Away, away ! I spurn thee now,
For time has burst the spell;
Thou knowest that I loved thee once,
' Not wisely, but too well.'
Hadst thou not deemed me all too weak
To clasp to thy proud breast,
Freely would I have given all
Affection's mines possessed.
Away, away ! thou need'st not speak
To the once ' thoughtless girl;'
Thy words, if uttered, would but fall
As rain-drops upon pearl.
Reason has triumphed, and 'twould seem
But mockery to begin
To woo and flatter when remains
The shade of what has been.
Away, away ! another's glance
Has fondly met my own ;
Another's voice has thrilled my frame
With its low, witching tone;
Another's lips have trembled with
The hopes they dared confess;
Another for my hand has sued,
And I have answered 'Yes.'
