Classic Poem

HE .

" Ah! — if you knew! if I dared to discover
Half that my heart feels to-day:
If there were words for so faithful a lover,
Soft enough, fond enough, — say,
Would you be vexed at my passionate pleading,
Would you believe it was true?
How would the beautiful eyes look, — conceding?
Rebuking? Ah, Sweet! if you knew! "

She .

" How can I know, when a glance of relenting
Stays the rash whisper, half-said?
How can I know, when, — while I am consenting,
" No" — is the sentence you dread?
Sometimes — I think I should never believe you,
Sometimes — my thought — is not so;
If you say nothing, no answer can grieve you,
Only then — what can I know? "