Angel in the House by Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore
page 37 of 154 (24%)
page 37 of 154 (24%)
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Which all the world with bounty loads,
Without respect of realms, save one, And gilds with double lustre Rhodes; A day of whose delicious life, Though full of terrors, full of tears, Is better than of other life A hundred thousand million years; Thy heavenly splendour magnifies The least commixture of earth's mould, Cheapens thyself in thine own eyes, And makes the foolish mocker bold. II.--LOVE JUSTIFIED. What if my pole-star of respect Be dim to others? Shall their 'Nay,' Presumably their own defect, Invalidate my heart's strong 'Yea'? And can they rightly me condemn, If I, with partial love, prefer? I am not more unjust to them, But only not unjust to her. Leave us alone! After awhile, This pool of private charity Shall make its continent an isle, And roll, a world-embracing sea; This foolish zeal of lip for lip, This fond, self-sanction'd, wilful zest, Is that elect relationship Which forms and sanctions all the rest; |
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