266. To Anthea, who may command him Anything

BID me to live, and I will live
Thy Protestant to be;
Or bid me love, and I will give
A loving heart to thee.

A heart as soft, a heart as kind,	5
A heart as sound and free
As in the whole world thou canst find,
That heart I’ll give to thee.

Bid that heart stay, and it will stay
To honour thy decree:	10
Or bid it languish quite away,
And ‘t shall do so for thee.

Bid me to weep, and I will weep
While I have eyes to see:
And, having none, yet will I keep	15
A heart to weep for thee.

Bid me despair, and I’ll despair
Under that cypress-tree:
Or bid me die, and I will dare
E’en death to die for thee.	20

Thou art my life, my love my heart,
The very eyes of me:
And hast command of every part
To live and die for thee.