Away! away! O, do not say
  He can prove false to me: 
Let me believe but this brief day 
  In his fidelity;
Tell me, that rivers backward flow,
That unsunned snows like fire-brands glow,
  I may believe that lay,
But never can believe that he 
  Is false and fled away. 

Ill acted part! ill acted part! 
  I knew his noble mind,
He could not break a trusting heart,
  Nor leave his love behind;
Tell me yon sun will cease to rise,
Or stars at night to gem the skies,
  I may believe such lay;
But never can believe that he 
  Is false and fled away.

Can it be so? O, surely no! 
  Must I perforce believe
That he I loved and trusted so,
  Vowed only to deceive? 
Heap coals of fire on this lone head,
Or in pure pity strike me dead, --
  'Twere kindness on the day 
That tells me one I loved so well,
  Is false, -- is fled away!