I GREAT Love, I thank thee, now thou hast Paid me for all my suff'rings past, And wounded me with Nature's Pride, For whom more glory 'tis to die Scorn'd and neglected, than enjoy All beauty in the world beside. II A beauty above all pretence, Whose very scorns are recompense, The regent of my heart is crown'd, And now the sorrows and the woe, My youth and folly help'd me to, Are buried in this friendly wound. III Led by my folly or my Fate, I lov'd before I knew not what, And threw my thoughts I knew not where: With judgment now I love and sue, And never yet perfection knew, Until I cast mine eyes on her. IV My soul, that was so base before Each little beauty to adore, Now rais'd to glory, does despise Those poor and counterfeited rays That caught me in my childish days, And knows no power but her eyes. V Rais'd to this height, I have no more, Almighty Love, for to implore Of my auspicious stars or thee, Than that thou bow her noble mind To be as mercifully kind As I shall ever faithful be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A BLUEBELL by EMILY JANE BRONTE ARCADIA: THE BARGAIN by PHILIP SIDNEY PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN OF CHARTRES by HENRY BROOKS ADAMS FIRMILIAN; A TRAGEDY by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN PSALM 109 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |