The+Visit

__**The Visit **__ FAIN had I to-day surprised my mistress, But soon found I that her door was fasten'd. Yet I had the key safe in my pocket And the darling door I open'd softly! In the parlour found I not the maiden, Found the maiden not within her closet, Then her chamber-door I gently open'd, When I found her wrapp'd in pleasing slumbers, Fully dress'd, and lying on the sofa.

While at work had slumber stolen o'er her; For her knitting and her needle found I Resting in her folded bands so tender; And I placed myself beside her softly, And held counsel, whether I should wake her.

Then I looked upon the beauteous quiet <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">That on her sweet eyelids was reposing <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">On her lips was silent truth depicted, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">On her cheeks had loveliness its dwelling, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">And the pureness of a heart unsullied <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In her bosom evermore was heaving. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">All her limbs were gracefully reclining, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Set at rest by sweet and godlike balsam. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Gladly sat I, and the contemplation <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Held the strong desire I felt to wake her <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Firmer and firmer down, with mystic fetters.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Oh, thou love," methought, "I see that slumber, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Slumber that betrayeth each false feature, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cannot injure thee, can nought discover <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">That could serve to harm thy friend's soft feelings.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Now thy beauteous eyes are firmly closed, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">That, when open, form mine only rapture. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">And thy sweet lips are devoid of motions <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Motionless for speaking or for kissing; <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Loosen'd are the soft and magic fetters <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Of thine arms, so wont to twine around me, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">And the hand, the ravishing companion <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Of thy sweet caresses, lies unmoving. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Were my thoughts of thee but based on error, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Were the love I bear thee self-deception, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I must now have found it out, since Amor <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is, without his bandage, placed beside me."

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Long I sat thus, full of heartfelt pleasure <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">At my love, and at her matchless merit; <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She had so delighted me while slumbering, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">That I could not venture to awake her.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Then I on the little table near her <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Softly placed two oranges, two roses; <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Gently, gently stole I from her chamber. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When her eyes the darling one shall open, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She will straightway spy these colourd presents, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">And the friendly gift will view with wonders <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For the door will still remain unopen'd.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If perchance I see to-night the angel, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">How will she rejoice,--reward me doubly <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For this sacrifice of fond affection!