Modern Love: X

But where began the change; and what’s my crime?

The wretch condemned, who has not been arraigned

Chafes at his sentence. Shall I, unsustained,

Drag on Love’s nerveless body thro’ all time?

I must have slept, since now I wake. Prepare,

You lovers, to know Love a thing of moods:

Not like hard life, of laws. In Love’s deep woods,

 I dreamt of loyal Life:—the offence is there!

Love’s jealous woods about the sun are curled;

At least, the sun far brighter there did beam.—

My crime is, that the puppet of a dream,

I plotted to be worthy of the world.

Oh, had I with my darling helped to mince

That facts of life, you still had seen me go

With hindward feather and with forward tow,

Her much-adored delightful Fairy Prince!