LOVE (III)
by George Herbert (1593-633)
Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
« A guest, » I answer’d, « worthy to be here »;
Love said, « You shall be he. »
« I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee. »
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
« Who made the eyes but I? »
« Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve. »
« And know you not, » says Love, « who bore the blame? »
« My dear, then I will serve. »
« You must sit down, » says Love, « and taste my meat. »
So I did sit and eat.
(Poème que connaissait par cœur la philosophe et mystique chrétienne Simone Weil -1909-1943.)