"LOVE thee?" Thou canst not ask of me So freely as I fain would give; 'T is woman's great necessity To love so long as she shall live; Therefore, if thou dost lovely prove, I cannot choose but give thee love! "Honor thee?" By her reverence The truest woman best is known; She needs must honor where she finds A nature loftier than her own; I shall not turn from thee away, Unless I find my idol clay! "Obey?" Doth not the stronger will The weaker govern and restrain? Most sweet obedience woman yields Where wisdom, power, manhood reign. I'll give thee, if thou canst control, The meek submission of my soul! Henceforward all my life shall be Moulded and fashioned by thine own; If wisdom, power, and constancy In all thy words and deeds are shown; Whether my vow be yea or nay, I'll "love, and honor, and obey." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A LADY WHO HAD OFFERED HIM A WREATH OF LAUREL by GEORGE SANTAYANA HALF-WAKING by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE WASTE LAND (1-5, COMPLETE) by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT THE VAMPIRE by RUDYARD KIPLING ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 11. TO THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND by MARK AKENSIDE PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 1. ALLAH by EDWIN ARNOLD EAST AND WEST by MATTHEW ARNOLD |