Did I bid thee
Mock, and forget me for thy friend - I say not,
King? Is thy heart so light and lean a thing,
So loose in faith and faint in love? I bade thee
Stand to me, help me, hold my hand in thine
And give my heart back answer. This it is,
Old friend and fool, that gnaws my life in twain -
The worm that writhes and feeds about my heart -
The devil and God are crying in either ear
One murderous word for ever, night and day,
Dark day and deadly night and deadly day,
Can she love thee who slewest her father? I
Love her. (Algernon Charles Swinburne)

Did I bid thee Mock, and forget me for thy friend - I say not, King? Is thy heart so light and lean a thing, So loose in faith and faint in love? I bade thee Stand to me, help me, hold my hand in thine And give my heart back answer. This it is, Old friend and fool, that gnaws my life in twain - The worm that writhes and feeds about my heart - The devil and God are crying in either ear One murderous word for ever, night and day, Dark day and deadly night and deadly day, Can she love thee who slewest her father? I Love her.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Related topics

answer bade cry dark day devil ear faith father fool friend hand heart help hold king lean life light loose love night say stand thee thing word worm

Related quotes