I'm
wondering
about Love.
Lascelles Abercrombie - Emblems of Love
O merciful God, must I handle it
Again? I dare not; what is it to me?
Let me off this! Who is it clutches me
By the neck behind? Who has hold of me
Forcing me stoop down? Love, is it thou?
Spare me this service, thou who hast all else
Of my maimed life: why wilt thou be cruel?
O grip me not so fiercely. Love! Ah no,
I will not: 'tis abominable--
JEAN
I
_The Parlour of a Public House. Two young men_, MORRIS
_and_ HAMISH.
_Hamish_.
Come, why so moody, Morris? Either talk,
Or drink, at least.
_Morris_.
I'm wondering about Love.
_Hamish_.
Ho, are you there, my boy? Who may it be?
_Morris_.
I'm not in love; but altogether posed
I am by lovers.
_Hamish_.
They're a simple folk:
I'm one.
_Morris_.
It's you I'm mainly thinking of.
_Hamish_.
Why, that's an honour, surely.
_Morris_.
Now if I loved
The girl you love, your Jean, (look where she goes
Waiting on drinkers, hearing their loose tongues;
And yet her clean thought takes no more of soil
Than white-hot steel laid among dust can take! )--
_Hamish_.
You not in love, and talking this fine stuff?
