[
  {
    "title": "The Wife's Will",
    "author": "Charlotte Bronte",
    "lines": [
      "Sit still­ a word­ a breath may break",
      "(As light airs stir a sleeping lake,)",
      "The glassy calm that soothes my woes,",
      "The sweet, the deep, the full repose.",
      "O leave me not ! for ever be",
      "Thus, more than life itself to me !",
      "",
      "Yes, close beside thee, let me kneel­",
      "Give me thy hand that I may feel",
      "The friend so true­so tried­so dear,",
      "My heart's own chosen­indeed is near;",
      "And check me not­this hour divine",
      "Belongs to me­is fully mine.",
      "",
      "'Tis thy own hearth thou sitt'st beside,",
      "After long absence­wandering wide;",
      "'Tis thy own wife reads in thine eyes,",
      "A promise clear of stormless skies,",
      "For faith and true love light the rays,",
      "Which shine responsive to her gaze.",
      "",
      "Aye,­well that single tear may fall;",
      "Ten thousand might mine eyes recall,",
      "Which from their lids, ran blinding fast,",
      "In hours of grief, yet scarcely past,",
      "Well may'st thou speak of love to me;",
      "For, oh ! most truly­I love thee !",
      "",
      "Yet smile­for we are happy now.",
      "Whence, then, that sadness on thy brow ?",
      "What say'st thou ? \" We must once again,",
      "Ere long, be severed by the main ? \"",
      "I knew not this­I deemed no more,",
      "Thy step would err from Britain's shore.",
      "",
      "\" Duty commands ?\" 'Tis true­'tis just;",
      "Thy slightest word I wholly trust,",
      "Nor by request, nor faintest sigh",
      "Would I, to turn thy purpose, try;",
      "But, William­hear my solemn vow­",
      "Hear and confirm !­with thee I go.",
      "",
      "\" Distance and suffering,\" did'st thou say ?",
      "\" Danger by night, and toil by day ?\"",
      "Oh, idle words, and vain are these;",
      "Hear me ! I cross with thee the seas.",
      "Such risk as thou must meet and dare,",
      "I­thy true wife­will duly share.",
      "",
      "Passive, at home, I will not pine;",
      "Thy toils­thy perils, shall be mine;",
      "Grant this­and be hereafter paid",
      "By a warm heart's devoted aid:",
      "'Tis granted­with that yielding kiss,",
      "Entered my soul unmingled bliss.",
      "",
      "Thanks, William­thanks ! thy love has joy,",
      "Pure­undefiled with base alloy;",
      "'Tis not a passion, false and blind,",
      "Inspires, enchains, absorbs my mind;",
      "Worthy, I feel, art thou to be",
      "Loved with my perfect energy.",
      "",
      "This evening, now, shall sweetly flow,",
      "Lit by our clear fire's happy glow;",
      "And parting's peace-embittering fear,",
      "Is warned, our hearts to come not near;",
      "For fate admits my soul's decree,",
      "In bliss or bale­to go with thee !"
    ],
    "linecount": "60"
  }
]