A woman says goodbye to her lover, promising he will always live in her memory—a debt she’ll pay with tears for as long as fear stays with her. She is afraid that she’ll spend the rest of her days looking and longing for his return and never see it. To soften that despair, she asks him for a small, strange favor: she wants him to press his lips into the air, leaving an invisible kiss. Then, when some gentle wind carries it to her, she can kiss that kiss from the air. In return, she’ll send a thousand of her own kisses back on the same breath of wind. The mood is tender and bittersweet, mixing real sorrow at the parting with a playful, almost magical hope. Her request turns empty air into a messenger, so that even across distance, their affection can pass back and forth on the breeze.
HIS MISTRESS TO HIM AT HIS FAREWELL — Summary
You may vow I'll not forget To pay the debt Which to thy memory stands as due As faith can seal it you. --Take then tribute of my tears; So long as I have fears To prompt me, I shall ever Languish and look, but thy return see never. Oh then to lessen my despair, Print thy lips into(the air, So by this Means, I may kiss thy kiss, Whenas some kind Wind Shall hither waft it:--And, in lieu, My lips shall send a thousand back to you.