Cease,
Laura, cease, suspect no
This careless heart has learnt to love,
Because on yonder lonely shoreI still at pensive evening rove;
Because of Henry's worth I
With eager warmth and sparkling eye;
Because his favourite haunts I seek,
And still o'erjoyed to meet him fly:….
But,
Laura, should my faltering
Refuse to speak in Henry's praise,
My trembling voice deny the
When Henry claims his favourite lays;
When Henry comes, should I
With smiles the welcome youth to seek,
But meet him full of cold respect,
While conscious blushes paint my cheek;
Should I, when Ella shares his praise,
Heave deeply-drawn but smothered sighs,
And, when on me he deigns to gaze,
Fix on the earth my conscious eyes;….
Then,
I'll no more thy charge deny,
No more thy tender fears reprove:
Then,
Laura, heave compassion's sigh,
For mine will be the sigh of love.
