What are we first? First, animals; and next | a | ||||
Intelligences at a leap; on whom | b | ||||
Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb, | b | ||||
And all that draweth on the tomb for text. | a | ||||
5 |
Into which state comes Love, the crowning sun: | c | |||
Beneath whose light the shadow loses form. | d | ||||
We are the lords of life, and life is warm. | d | ||||
Intelligence and instinct now are one. | c | ||||
But nature says: ‘My children most they seem | e | ||||
10 |
When they least know me: therefore I decree | f | |||
That they shall suffer.’ Swift doth young Love flee, | f | ||||
And we stand wakened, shivering from our dream. | e | ||||
Then if we study Nature we are wise. | g | ||||
Thus do the few who live but with the day: | h | ||||
15 |
The scientific animals are they. | h | |||
Lady, this is my sonnet to your eyes. | g | ||||
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