TELL me, ye juster deities, That pity lovers' miseries, Why should my own unworthiness Fright me to seek my happiness? It is as natural as just Him for to love, whom needs I must: All men confess that love 's a fire, Then who denies it to aspire? Tell me, if thou wert Fortune's thrall, Wouldst thou not raise thee from the fall, Seek only to o'erlook thy state Whereto thou art condemn'd by fate? Then let me love my Coridon, And by love's leave, him love alone: For I have read of stories oft, That love hath wings and soars aloft. Then let me grow in my desire, Though I be martyr'd in that fire; For grace it is enough for me, But only to love such as he: For never shall my thoughts be base, Though luckless, yet without disgrace: Then let him that my love shall blame Or clip love's wings, or quench love's flame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PLAYERS ASK FOR A BLESSING ON THE PSALTERIES AND ON THEMSELVES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE TWO SAYINGS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING WORDLY WISE (10) by MOTHER GOOSE A THOUGHT FROM SCHILLER by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 39 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |