Love (III)

¹Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

²Guilty of dust and sin.

³But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

⁴From my first entrance in,

⁵Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

⁶If I lack'd anything.

⁷"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here":

⁸Love said, "You shall be he."

⁹"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

¹⁰I cannot look on Thee."

¹¹Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

¹²"Who made the eyes but I?"

¹³"Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them: let my shame

¹⁴Go where it doth deserve."

¹⁵"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"

¹⁶"My dear, then I will serve."

¹⁷"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."

¹⁸So I did sit and eat.