<h2><SPAN name="page56"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>WHAT GAIN?</h2>
<p class="poetry">Now, while thy rounded cheek is fresh and
fair,<br/>
While beauty lingers, laughing, in thine eyes,<br/>
Ere thy young heart shall meet the stranger,
“Care,”<br/>
Or thy blithe soul become the home of sighs,<br/>
Were it not kindness should I give thee rest<br/>
By plunging this sharp dagger in thy breast?<br/>
Dying so young, with all thy wealth of youth,<br/>
What part of life wouldst thou not claim, in sooth?<br/>
Only the woe,<br/>
Sweetheart, that sad souls
know.</p>
<p class="poetry">Now, in this sacred hour of supreme trust,<br/>
Of pure delight and palpitating joy,<br/>
Ere change can come, as come it surely must,<br/>
With jarring doubts and discords, to destroy<br/>
<SPAN name="page57"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>Our far
too perfect peace, I pray thee, Sweet,<br/>
Were it not best for both of us, and meet,<br/>
If I should bring swift death to seal our bliss?<br/>
Dying so full of joy, what could we miss?<br/>
Nothing but
tears,<br/>
Sweetheart, and weary years.</p>
<p class="poetry">How slight the action! Just one
well-aimed blow<br/>
Here, where I feel thy warm heart’s pulsing
beat,<br/>
And then another through my own, and so<br/>
Our perfect union would be made complete:<br/>
So, past all parting, I should claim thee mine.<br/>
Dead with our youth, and faith, and love divine,<br/>
Should we not keep the best of life that way?<br/>
What shall we gain by living day on day?<br/>
What shall we
gain,<br/>
Sweetheart, but bitter pain?</p>
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