Lo I, Song's most true lover, plain me sore <br />That worse than other women she can deceive, <br />For she being goddess, I have given her more <br />Than mortal ladies from their loves receive; <br />And first of her embrace <br />She was not coy, and gracious were her ways, <br />That I forgot all virgins to adore; <br />Nor did I greatly grieve <br />To bear through arid days <br />The pretty foil of her divine delays; <br />And one by one to cast <br />Life, love, and health, <br />Content, and wealth, <br />Before her, thinking ever on her praise, <br />Until at last <br />Nought had I left she would be gracious for. <br />Now of her cozening I complain me sore, <br />Seeing her uses, <br />That still, more constantly she is pursued, <br />And straitlier wooed, <br />Her only-ador-ed favour more refuses, <br />And leaves me to implore <br />Remembered boon in bitterness of blood. <br /> <br />From mortal woman thou may'st know full well, <br />O poet, that dost deem the fair and tall <br />Urania of her ways not mutable, <br />When things shall thee befall <br />What thou art toil-ed in her sweet, wild spell. <br />Do they strow for thy feet <br />A little tender favour and deceit <br />Over the sudden mouth of hidden hell?-- <br />As more intolerable <br />Her pit, as her first kiss is heavenlier-sweet. <br />Are they, the more thou sigh, <br />Still the more watchful-cruel to deny?-- <br />Know this, that in her service thou shalt learn <br />How harder than the heart of woman is <br />The immortal cruelty <br />Of the high goddesses. <br />True is his witness who doth witness this, <br />Whose gaze too early fell-- <br />Nor thence shall turn, <br />Nor in those fires shall cease to weep and burn-- <br />Upon her ruinous eyes and ineludible.<br /><br />Francis Thompson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/against-urania/
