I.
Dost thou love me, my Belovèd?
       &nbspWho shall answer yes or no?
What is provèd or disprovèd
       &nbspWhen my soul inquireth so,
Dost thou love me, my Belovèd?


II.
I have seen thy heart to-day,
       &nbspNever open to the crowd,
While to love me aye and aye
       &nbspWas the vow as it was vowed
By thine eyes of steadfast grey.


III.
Now I sit alone, alone—
       &nbspAnd the hot tears break and burn,
Now, Belovèd, thou art gone,
       &nbspDoubt and terror have their turn.
Is it love that I have known?

IV.
I have known some bitter things,—
       &nbspAnguish, anger, solitude.
Year by year an evil brings,
       &nbspYear by year denies a good;
March winds violate my springs.
V.
I have known how sickness bends,
       &nbspI have known how sorrow breaks,—
How quick hopes have sudden ends,
       &nbspHow the heart thinks till it aches
Of the smile of buried friends.


VI.
Last, I have known thee, my brave
       &nbspNoble thinker, lover, doer!
The best knowledge last I have.
       &nbspBut thou comest as the thrower
Of fresh flowers upon a grave.


VII.
Count what feelings used to move me!
       &nbspCan this love assort with those?
Thou, who art so far above me,
       &nbspWilt thou stoop so, for repose?
Is it true that thou canst love me?


VIII.
Do not blame me if I doubt thee.
       &nbspI can call love by its name
When thine arm is wrapt about me;
       &nbspBut even love seems not the same,
When I sit alone, without thee.


IX.
In thy clear eyes I descried
       &nbspMany a proof of love, to-day;
But to-night, those unbelied
       &nbspSpeechful eyes being gone away,
There’s the proof to seek, beside.


X.
Dost thou love me, my Belovèd?
       &nbspOnly thou canst answer yes!
And, thou gone, the proof’s disprovèd,
       &nbspAnd the cry rings answerless—
Dost thou love me, my Belovèd?