To Anthea, Who May Command Him Anything

Bid me to live, and I will liveThy Protestant to be,Or bid me love, and I will giveA loving heart to thee.A heart as soft, a heart as kind,A heart as sound and freeAs in the whole world thou canst find,That heart I'll give to thee.Bid that heart stay, and it will stayTo honour thy decree:Or bid it languish quite away,And't shall do so for thee.Bid me to weep, and I will weepWhile I have eyes to see:And, having none, yet I will keepA heart to weep for thee.Bid me despair, and I'll despairUnder that cypress-tree:Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en death to die for thee.Thou art my life, my love, my heart,The very eyes of me:And hast command of every partTo live and die for thee.