O best of wives! O dearer far to me
That when thy virgin charms
Were yielded to my arms,
How can my soul endure the loss of thee?
How in the world to me a desart grown,
Abandon'd, and alone,
Without my sweet companion can I live?
Without thy lovely smile,
The dear reward of ev'ry virtuous toil,
What pleasures now can pall'd Ambition give?
Ev'n the delightful sense of well-earn'd praise,
Unshar'd by thee, no more my lifeless thoughts could raise,