Love In the Guise of Friendship

Talk not of love it gives me pain
For love has been my foe
He bound me in an iron chain
And plunged me deep in woe
But friendship’s pure and lasting joys
My heart was formed to prove
There welcome, win and wear the prize
But never talk of love
Your friendship much can make me blest
Oh why that bliss destroy
Why urge the only one request you know I will deny
Your thought if love must harbour there
Conceal it in that thought
Nor cause it in that thought
Nor cause me from my bosom tear
The very friend I sought