George Meredith (1828-1909)

Modern Love XXX

 
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What are we first? First, animals; and next

Intelligences at a leap; on whom

Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb,

And all that draweth on the tomb for text.

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Into which state comes Love, the crowning sun:

Beneath whose light the shadow loses form.

We are the lords of life, and life is warm.

Intelligence and instinct now are one.

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But nature says: ‘My children most they seem

When they least know me: therefore I decree

That they shall suffer.’ Swift doth young Love flee,

And we stand wakened, shivering from our dream.

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Then if we study Nature we are wise.

Thus do the few who live but with the day:

The scientific animals are they.

Lady, this is my sonnet to your eyes.