The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

POETRY.
THE TREATY.
BY CAROLINE BOWLES.

Never tell me of loving by measure and weight,
As one's merits may lack or abound;
As if love could be carried to market, like skate
And cheapened for so much a pound.

If it can—if your's can—let them have it who care—
You and I friend! shall never agree,
Pack up, and to market—be off with your ware,
It's a great deal too common for me.

Do ye linger?—D'ye laugh?—I'm earnest I swear,
But belike overhasty in thought;
If it suits ye to close with my terms as they are,
Well and good—but I wont abate a jot.

You must love me—we'll note the chief articles now,
To preclude all mistake in our pact,
And I'll pledge ye unasked and before-hand my vow,
To give double for all I exact.

You must love me—not only through "evil report,"
When its falsehood you know or divine;
But when upon earth I can only resort
To your heart, as a voucher for mine.

You must love me—not my faults, but in spite of them, me
For the very caprices that vex ye—
Nay, the more should ye chance, as it's likely, to see
Tis my special delight to perplex ye.

You must love me, albeit all the world I offend
With my folly, my feelings, conceit,
While assured (if you are not, all treaty must end)
That I never can stoop to deceit.

While assured (as we must be, or there, too, we part)
That were all the world leagued against you;
To loosen one hair of your hold on my heart,
Would be more than "life's labors" could do.

You must love me, how'er I may take things amiss,
Whereof you in all conscience stand clear,
And although when you'd fain make it up with a kiss,
Your reward be a box on the ear.

You must love me—not only when smiling and gay
Complying, sweet-tempered and civil;
But when moping, and frowning, and froward—or say
The thing plain out—as cross as the devil.

You must love me in all moods—in seriousness—sport
Under all change of circumstance, too;
Apart, or together, or in crowd, or in short
You must love me—because I love you!