Oh ! speech is poor to paint a difference
I feel so vast! Trust, honour, tenderness —
The all that friendship asks — compose not love!
Friendship still keeps distinction. Friends are twain,
But lovers one!
Friends are two kings in dear confederance join'd,
That still rule separate empires; but in love
Both realms united, take one name, one tongue,
One law, one faith, one consequence, one crown!
Friends are two banks a kindly stream divides;
Lovers — twin clouds into each other blent
And bath'd in the same beam. Friends are like trees
That stand with arms enlaced but parted roots;
But that we love is grafted on one stem,
Fed with our sap, and nurtur'd by our dews,
And wither'd in our blight!