Examples, since the world was made,
That this most perfect love betrayed;
Nay fewer e’en than this I trow,
Who did by word of mouth avow
Themselves such friends.
And am I then
Wiser than Tully? Surely men
Would call me fool if I should try
To find such love as certainly
Dwells not on earth? Where should one go
For love that lives not here below?5730
Deem you that I dare soar as high
As cranes, or seek to pierce the sky
Of thought with Plato? Nay, I tire
Of speaking, and have small desire
The Gods should think of me as one
Who’d storm their heaven, and cast adown
Dread thunder on me as on those
Old giants of whom the story goes.
You’d scarce desire such fate should be
For self-same cause dealt out to me,5740
Thereof have I no shade of doubt.”
Reason.
No love perfect
“Fair friend,” quoth Reason, “hear me out.
To fly aloft would suit thee not,
But flight of thought and will, I wot,
May all men compass. Set delay
Aside, and list me when I say,
If thou esteemest all too high
The love I tell of, possibly
The fault is thine. Thou yet shalt know
From me another love—but no—5750
