Odes To Nea: You read it in my languid eyes...

You read it in my languid eyes...

by Thomas Moore

Written at Bermuda.

You read it in my languid eyes,
And there alone should love be read;
You hear me say it all in sighs,
And thus alone should love be said.

Then dread no more; I will not speak;
Although my heart to anguish thrill,
I'll spare the burning of your cheek,
And look it all in silence still!

Heard you the wish I dared to name,
To murmur on that luckless night,
When passion broke the bonds of shame,
And love grew madness in your sight?

Divinely through the graceful dance,
You seem'd to float in silent song,
Bending to earth that beamy glance,
As if to light your steps along!

Oh! how could others dare to touch
That hallow'd form with hand so free,
When but to look was bliss too much,
Too rare for all but heaven and me!

With smiling eyes, that little thought
How fatal were the beams they threw,
My trembling hands you lightly caught,
And round me like a spirit, flew.

Heedless of all, I wildly turn'd,
My soul forgot -- nor, oh! condemn,
That when such eyes before me burn'd,
My soul forgot all eyes but them!

I dared to speak in sobs of bliss,
Rapture of every thought bereft me,
I would have clasped you -- oh, even this! --
But, with a bound, you blushing left me.

Forget, forget that night's offence,
Forgive it, if, alas! you can;
'Twas love, 'twas passion -- soul and sense --
'Twas all the best and worst of man!

That moment did the mingled eyes
Of heaven and earth my madness view.
I should have seen, through earth and skies,
But you alone -- but only you!

Did not a frown from you reprove,
Myriads of eyes to me were none;
I should have -- oh, my only love!
My life! what should I not have done?