Love is the flower of maidenhood;
Love is the fruit of mortal pain;
And she hath winter in her blood.
True love is stedfast as the skies,
And once alight she never flies;
And love is strong, and love is wise.
XVI—"LOVE IS NOT BOND TO ANY MAN"
Love is not bond to any man,
Nor slave of woman, howso fair.
Love knows no architect nor plan,
She is a lawless wanderer,
She hath no master over her,
And loveth not her worshiper.
But tho' she knoweth law nor plan,—
Tho' she is free as light and air,—
Love was a slave since time began.
Lo, now, behold a wondrous thing:
Tho' from stone walls she taketh wing,
Love may be led by a silken string.
XVII—"HE KNOWS NOT THE PATH OF DUTY"
He knows not the path of duty
Who says that the way is sweet;
But he who is blind to the beauty,
And finds but thorns for his feet.
He alone is the perfect giver
Who swears that his gift is naught;
And he is the sure receiver
Who gains what he never sought.
