Thy hue, dear pledge, is pure and bright br As in that well - remember'd night br When first thy mystic braid was wove, br And first my Agnes whisper'd love. br br Since then how often hast thou prest br The torrid zone of this wild breast, br Whose wrath and hate have sworn to dwell br With the first sin that peopled hell; br A breast whose blood's a troubled ocean, br Each throb the earthquake's wild commotion! br O if such clime thou canst endure br Yet keep thy hue unstain'd and pure, br What conquest o'er each erring thought br Of that fierce realm had Agnes wrought! br I had not wander'd far and wide br With such an angel for my guide; br Nor heaven nor earth could then reprove me br If she had lived and lived to love me.