Emblems Of Love by Lascelles Abercrombie
page 16 of 217 (07%)
page 16 of 217 (07%)
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Yet sometimes we are liked ashamed, to be
Taking so much love from you, all for naught. Now therefore tell me, Man, my king, my master: Lovest thou me, or dost thou rather love The pleasure thou hast in me? This is not nice, Believe me. They're more sundered, these two loves, Than if all the braving seas marcht between them. _Ahasuerus_. What, shrinking from thine own delightsomeness? Hear then. Nature, so ordered from the God, Has given strength to man and work to do, But to woman gave that she should be delight For man, else like an overdriven ox Heart-broke. The world was made for man, but made Wisely a steep difficulty to be climbed, That he, so labouring the stubborn slant, May step from off the world with a well-used courage, All slouch disgrace fought out of him, a man Well worthy of a Heaven. And this great part Has woman in the work; that man, fordone And wearied, may find lodging out of the noise Upon her breast, and looking in her eyes May wash in pools of kindness, fresh as Heaven, The soil of sweat and trouble from his limbs; And turning aside into this pleasant inn Called woman, there is entertainment kept For man, such that for cheating craftily The stabled palter'd heart that it can pass Through the world's grillage and be large as fate, |
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