ah, sweet, thou little knowest how

i wake and passionate watches keep;

and yet while i address thee now,

methinks thou smilest in thy sleep.

’tis sweet enough to make me weep,

that tender thought of love and thee,

that while the world is hush’d so deep,

thy soul’s perhaps awake to me!

sleep on, sleep on, sweet bride of sleep!

with golden visions of thy dower,

while i this midnight vigil keep,

and bless thee in thy silent bower;

to me ’tis sweeter than the power

of sleep, and fairy dreams unfurl’d,

that i alone, at this still hour,

in patient love outwatch the world.