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'To be good only, is to be
'A God, or else a Pharisee.
'Thou Angel of the Presence Divine,
'That didst create this body of mine,
'Wherefore hast thou writ these laws
'And created Hell's dark jaws ?
'Though thou didst all to chaos roll
'With the serpent for its soul,
'Still the breath Divine doth move,
'And the breath Divine is Love.
'Woman, fear not ; let me see
'The seven devils that trouble thee ;
'Hide not from my sight thy sin,
'That full forgiveness thou may'st win.
'Hath no man condemned thee?'
'No man, Lord.'
'Then what is he
'Who shall accuse thee? Come ye forth,
'Ye fallen fiends of heavenly birth !
'Ye shall bow before her feet,
'Ye shall lick the dust for meat ;
'And though ye cannot love, but hate,
'Ye shall be beggars at love's gate.
'What was thy love ? Let me see't !
'Was it love, or dark deceit ? '
'Love too long from me hath fled ;
''Twas dark deceit, to earn my bread ;
''Twas covet, or 'twas custom, or
'Some trifle not worth caring for.
'But these would call a shame and sin
'Love's temple that God dwelleth in.'
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