Cruel Love—Anacreontic

I LOOKED from out my window onceAnd saw Love standing there;No cloak had he to cover him,His dimpled feet were bare,And fast and chill the snowflakes fellOn his ambrosial hair.

He lifted up to mine a faceFilled with celestial light;Fond, fond with pity grew my heartTo see his hapless plight,And down I sped to offer himWarm shelter for the night:—

"Come in, come in, thou tender child,A wanderer from thine own!Hath all the world abandoned thee,That thou art thus alone?Come in, come in! that straightway IFor others may atone!"

I took his icy hand in mine,—Why swifter throbbed each vein?Was it the impulse of my bloodTo ease his frozen pain?—Yet still his lips refused to smile,Still fell his tears like rain.

Bashful he seemed, as half inclinedTo shiver there apart:I led him closer to the fire,I drew him to my heart:Ah, cruel Love! my trustful breastHe wounded with a dart!

Ah, cruel Love! He smiled at last—A wondrous smile to see!And passing from my sheltering door,With step alert and free,He took my warmth, my joy with him,—His tears he left to me!