What say of love, fair fostered on a smile,

That force to bind the twain upon first sight?

Why should dear Cupid choose to so beguile

Sweet innocents in amorous delight?

What creed baptizes with a simple kiss

There forging bonds invisible to eyes—

That every mortal flaw would there dismiss,

Yet whispered virtues every ear apprise?

Love is in truth life’s greatest single power—

The one great triumph—heart and soul combined

With all eternity constrained to hours,

All trust enshrined in love’s embrace to find.

Most life is dreaming, hope on hope to try—

True love’s the meaning, abiding in each sigh.