 | The poetical works of John Greenleaf Whittier |  |
THE TWO LOVES.
Smoothing soft the nestling head
Of a maiden fancy-led,
Thus a grave-eyed woman said:
Of a maiden fancy-led,
Thus a grave-eyed woman said:
“Richest gifts are those we make,
Dearer than the love we take
That we give for love's own sake.
Dearer than the love we take
That we give for love's own sake.
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“Well I know the heart's unrest;
Mine has been the common quest,
To be loved and therefore blest.
Mine has been the common quest,
To be loved and therefore blest.
“Favors undeserved were mine;
At my feet as on a shrine
Love has laid its gifts divine.
At my feet as on a shrine
Love has laid its gifts divine.
“Sweet the offerings seemed, and yet
With their sweetness came regret,
And a sense of unpaid debt.
With their sweetness came regret,
And a sense of unpaid debt.
“Heart of mine unsatisfied,
Was it vanity or pride
That a deeper joy denied?
Was it vanity or pride
That a deeper joy denied?
“Hands that ope but to receive
Empty close; they only live
Richly who can richly give.
Empty close; they only live
Richly who can richly give.
“Still,” she sighed, with moistening eyes,
“Love is sweet in any guise;
But its best is sacrifice!
“Love is sweet in any guise;
But its best is sacrifice!
“He who, giving, does not crave
Likest is to Him who gave
Life itself the loved to save.
Likest is to Him who gave
Life itself the loved to save.
“Love, that self-forgetful gives,
Sows surprise or ripened sheaves,
Late or soon its own receives.”
Sows surprise or ripened sheaves,
Late or soon its own receives.”
1884.
| The poetical works of John Greenleaf Whittier | |