Oh, No - Not Even When First We Loved

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h1 id="id02323" style="margin-top: 6em">OH, NO—NOT EVEN WHEN FIRST WE LOVED.</h1> <h5 id="id02324">(CASHMERIAN AIR.)</h5> <p id="id02325" style="margin-top: 2em">Oh, no—not even when first we loved,<br/> Wert thou as dear as now thou art;<br/> Thy beauty then my senses moved,<br/> But now thy virtues bind my heart.<br/> What was but Passion's sigh before,<br/> Has since been turned to Reason's vow;<br/> And, though I then might love thee <i>more</i>,<br/> Trust me, I love thee <i>better</i> now.<br/></p> <p id="id02326">Altho' my heart in earlier youth<br/> Might kindle with more wild desire,<br/> Believe me, it has gained in truth<br/> Much more than it has lost in fire.<br/> The flame now warms my inmost core,<br/> That then but sparkled o'er my brow,<br/> And, though I seemed to love thee more,<br/> Yet, oh, I love thee better now.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />