I am a woman--therefore I may not br Call to him, cry to him, br Fly to him, br Bid him delay not! br br Then when he comes to me, I must sit quiet: br Still as a stone-- br All silent and cold. br If my heart riot-- br Crush and defy it! br Should I grow bold, br Say one dear thing to him, br All my life fling to him, br Cling to him-- br What to atone br Is enough for my sinning! br This were the cost to me, br This were my winning-- br That he were lost to me. br br Not as a lover br At last if he part from me, br Tearing my heart from me, br Hurt beyond cure,-- br Calm and demure br Then must I hold me, br In myself fold me, br Lest he discover; br Showing no sign to him br By look of mine to him br What he has been to me-- br How my heart turns to him, br Follows him, yearns to him, br Prays him to love me.