THE woman's gentle mood o'erstept Withers my love, that lightly scans The rest, and does in her accept All her own faults, but none of man's. As man I cannot judge her ill, Or honour her fair station less, Who, with a woman's errors, still Preserves a woman's gentleness; For thus I think, if one I see Who disappoints my high desire, 'How admirable would she be, 'Could she but know how I admire!' Or fail she, though from blemish clear, To charm, I call it my defect; And so my thought, with reverent fear To err by doltish disrespect, Imputes love's great regard, and says, 'Though unapparent 'tis to me, 'Be sure this Queen some other sways 'With well-perceiv'd supremacy.' Behold the worst! Light from above On the blank ruin writes 'Forbear! 'Her first crime was unguarded love, 'And all the rest, perhaps, despair.' Discrown'd, dejected, but not lost, O, sad one, with no more a name Or place in all the honour'd host Of maiden and of matron fame, Grieve on; but, if thou grievest right, 'Tis not that these abhor thy state, Nor would'st thou lower the least the height Which makes thy casting down so great. Good is thy lot in its degree; For hearts that verily repent Are burden'd with impunity And comforted by chastisement. Sweet patience sanctify thy woes! And doubt not but our God is just, Albeit unscathed thy traitor goes, And thou art stricken to the dust. That penalty's the best to bear Which follows soonest on the sin; And guilt's a game where losers fare Better than those who seem to win. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DEVIL'S WALK [ON EARTH] by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 27 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN JUNE BRACKEN AND HEATHER by ALFRED TENNYSON THE HIRED MAN by EVA K. ANGLESBURG URANIA; THE WOMAN IN THE MOON: THE FOURTH CANTO, OR LAST QUARTER by WILLIAM BASSE FALLING STARS by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER TAKE YOUR CHOICE: AS WALT MASON WOULD DO IT by BERTON BRALEY |