I Said To Love

I said to Love,     "It is not now as in old days     When men adored thee and thy ways      All else above;     Named thee the Boy, the Bright, the One     Who spread a heaven beneath the sun,"      I said to Love.      I said to him,     "We now know more of thee than then;     We were but weak in judgment when,      With hearts abrim,     We clamoured thee that thou would'st please     Inflict on us thine agonies,"      I said to him.      I said to Love,     "Thou art not young, thou art not fair,     No faery darts, no cherub air,      Nor swan, nor dove     Are thine; but features pitiless,     And iron daggers of distress,"      I said to Love.      "Depart then, Love! . . .     - Man's race shall end, dost threaten thou?     The age to come the man of now      Know nothing of? -     We fear not such a threat from thee;     We are too old in apathy!     Mankind shall cease. - So let it be,"      I said to Love.