The Rhode Island Republican

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.
By the late Henry Neele.

"If I speak to thee in Friendship's name,
Thou thinkst I talk too coldly;
If I mention Love's devoted flame,
Thou sayst I speak too boldly
Between those two unequal fires.
Why doom me thus to hover?
I'm a friend if such thy heart requires,
I more than seekst, a lover.
Which shall it be?
How shall I woo?
Fair one, choose between the two,
Though the wings of Love will brightly play
When he comes to woo thee:
There's a chance that he may fly away
As fast as he flies to thee;
While Friendship, though on foot she come,
No flights of fancy trying,
Will therefore oft be found at home,
When love abroad is flying
Which shall it be?
How shall I woo?
Dear one, choose between the two.
But if neither feeling suits thy heart,
Let's see (to please thee) whether
We may not learn some precious art
To mix their charms together—
One feeling still more sweet to form
From two so sweet already—
A Friendship that, like Love is warm,
A Love, like Friendship, steady
Thus let it be,
Thus let me woo;
Dearest, thus we'll join the two.