I gave myself to Him — Forward Contract

I gave myself to Him－¹
And took Himself, for Pay,
The solemn contract of a Life
Was ratified, this way－

The Wealth might disappoint－⁵
Myself a poorer prove
Than this great Purchaser suspect,
The Daily Own－of Love

Depreciate the Vision－⁹
But till the Merchant buy－
Still Fable－in the Isles of Spice－
The subtle Cargoes－lie－

At least－'tis Mutual－Risk－¹³
Some－found it－Mutual Gain－
Sweet Debt of Life－Each Night to owe－
Insolvent－every Noon－

(F.426/J.580)

[1, 2] Myself, Himself:: my credit, his credit.
[3] contract of a Life:: contract of a product's life.
[4] ratified:: a forward contract operated by credit.
[5–7] disappoint, poorer, suspect:: disappointed if the product's value is poorer than suspected.
[11] Fable:: an unreal product at the moment of contract signed.
[12] subtle Cargoes:: cargoes, imperceptible, virtual to the contractors.
[13, 14] Mutual Risk, Gain:: the nature of the future trade.
[15] Sweet Debt of Life:: sweet duty (no need to pay) during the life of contract. Each Night:: each dark moment.
[16] Insolvent:: unable to pay. Noon:: the highest point.
[15, 16] owe, Insolvent:: virtual debt only before the settlement date.

It soon became evident, however, that the purchases had been made solely on speculative account; and as the deliveries upon forward contracts became due, it was further found that the speculators were of a widely different class to those who bought at end of 1853, ─ The Farmer's Magazine (1855)

Grain—A good demand for prime Wheat for early delivery at buoyant prices, but for forward delivery there is hardly so much firmness, the market closing tame; ─ The Ohio Cultivator Vol. IX (1853)