I wonder did you ever count The value of one human fate;Or sum the infinite amount Of one heart's treasures,and the weight Of Life's one venture,and the whole concentrate purpose of a soul.
And if you ever paused to think That all this in your hands I laid Without a fear:-did you not shrink From such a burthen?half afraid,Half wishing that you could divide the risk,or cast it all aside.
While Love has daily perils,such As none foresee and none control;And hearts are strung so that one touch,Careless or rough,may jar the whole,You well might feel afraid to reign with absolute power of joy and pain.
You well might fear--if Love's sole claim Were to be happy:but true Love Takes joy as solace,not as aim,And looks beyond,and looks above;And sometimes through the bitterest strife first learns to live her highest life.
Earth forges joy into a chain Till fettered Love forgets its strength,Its purpose,and its end;--but Pain Restores its heritage at length,And bids Love rise again and be eternal,mighty,pure,and free.
If then your future life should need A strength my Love can only gain Through suffering,or my heart be freed Only by sorrow,from some stain -Then you shall give,and I will take,this Crown of fire for Love's dear sake.
Sept.8th,1860.
