To his Love

Gentle as Truth, and zealous even as Love —
Which is the fiercest of all earthly things;
Frank, and yet using caution as a glove

To guard the skin from foulnesses or stings, —
Giving the bare hand surely to the true:
Such would I be, to make me worthy you.

Bitter sometimes, as wholesome tonics are;
Wrathful as Justice in her earnest mood;
Scornful as Honour is, yet not to bar

Appreciation of the lowest good;
Loathing the vile, the cruel, the untrue:
How should my manhood else be worthy you?

Say I am subtil, fierce, and bitter-tongued:
Love is all this, and yet Love is beloved.
But say not that I wilfully have wrong'd

Even those whose hate and falsehood I have proved.
Who say this know me not, and never knew
What I would be, but to be worthy you.