You say you love; but with a voice 
      Chaster than a nun's, who singeth 
The soft Vespers to herself 
   While the chime-bell ringeth--- 
      O love me truly! 

You say you love; but with a smile 
   Cold as sunrise in September, 
As you were Saint Cupid's nun, 
   And kept his weeks of Ember. 
      O love me truly! 

You say you love,---but then your lips 
   Coral tinted teach no blisses, 
More than coral in the sea--- 
   They never pout for kisses--- 
      O love me truly! 

You say you love; but then your hand 
   No soft squeeze for squeeze returneth, 
It is, like a statue's, dead, 
   While mine to passion burneth--- 
      O love me truly! 

O breathe a word or two of fire! 
   Smile, as if those words should burn me. 
Squeeze as lovers should---O kiss 
   And in thy heart inurn me! 
      O love me truly!