 | Stones from The Quarry |  |
204
TO ------.
I could not love thee if, though in how poor
Soever fashion, I had, were not, good
Myself, to love its best similitude
In thee; though mine be but as the poor floor,
Or lowest step unto the temple-door;
Thine as the shrine itself; wherein intrude
No thoughts unsanctioned, nought profane or rude,
Unconsecrate; but purest of the pure!
I could not love thee and not good become!
Thy beauty, thy soul's shadow, in like wise
As light is Truth's, and Truth of both the sum,
Is but thy goodness in another guise!
Thy love is as those steps on which did come
And go the angels, and by it I rise!
Soever fashion, I had, were not, good
Myself, to love its best similitude
In thee; though mine be but as the poor floor,
Or lowest step unto the temple-door;
Thine as the shrine itself; wherein intrude
No thoughts unsanctioned, nought profane or rude,
Unconsecrate; but purest of the pure!
I could not love thee and not good become!
Thy beauty, thy soul's shadow, in like wise
As light is Truth's, and Truth of both the sum,
Is but thy goodness in another guise!
Thy love is as those steps on which did come
And go the angels, and by it I rise!
Thou could'st not love me if thou didst not find
Some good in me; been, being, or to be;
In act, or thereof possibilitie.
Some faint reflection of thy better mind,
Whatever in degree, not else in kind;
A glass, in which some image thou may'st see
Of thy good, still to be eked out by thee:
Motes in the sight too, yet not wilful-blind!
Thy Best and Most eke out my Worst and Least;
Yet best-ed, most-ed, mere-comparative;
My Least but Less, but Better my most Best!
Thou still must be my sole-Superlative!
Yet thus approaching thee, supremely-blest,
My Ill thou takest, and thy Good dost give!
Some good in me; been, being, or to be;
In act, or thereof possibilitie.
Some faint reflection of thy better mind,
Whatever in degree, not else in kind;
A glass, in which some image thou may'st see
Of thy good, still to be eked out by thee:
Motes in the sight too, yet not wilful-blind!
Thy Best and Most eke out my Worst and Least;
Yet best-ed, most-ed, mere-comparative;
My Least but Less, but Better my most Best!
Thou still must be my sole-Superlative!
Yet thus approaching thee, supremely-blest,
My Ill thou takest, and thy Good dost give!
| Stones from The Quarry | |