One kiss, dear maid! I said and sighed, br Your scorn the little boon denied. br Ah why refuse the blameless bliss? br Can danger lurk within a kiss? br br Yon viewless wand'rer of the vale, br The spirit of the western gale, br At morning's break, at evening's close br Inhales the sweetness of the rose br And hovers o'er th' uninjured bloom br Sighing back the soft perfume. br Vigor to the zephyr's wing br Her nectar-breathing kisses fling; br And he the glitter of the dew br Scatters on the rose's hue. br Bashful, lo! she bends her head, br And darts a blush of deeper red! br br Too well those lovely lips disclose br The triumphs of the op'ning rose: br O fair! O graceful! bid them prove br As passive to the breath of love. br In tender accents, faint and low, br Well-pleased I hear the whispered 'No!' br The whispered 'No' ---- how little meant! br Sweet falsehood, that endears consent! br For on those lovely lips the while br Dawns the soft relenting smile, br And tempts with feigned dissuasion coy br The gentle violence of joy.