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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse  »  Coventry Patmore (1823–1896)

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

Thoughts

Coventry Patmore (1823–1896)

I.CONSTANCY
I VOW’D unvarying faith; and she,

To whom in full I pay that vow,

Rewards me with variety

Which men who change can never know.

II.SHAME
THE WRONG is made and measured by

The right’s inverted dignity.

Change love to shame, as love is high

So low in hell your bed shall be.

III.ATTAINMENT
YOU love? That ’s high as you shall go:

For ’tis as true as Gospel text,

Not noble then is never so,

Either in this world or the next.

IV.SENSUALITY
WHO pleasure follows pleasure slays;

God’s wrath upon himself he wreaks;

But all delights rejoice his days

Who takes with thanks and never seeks.

V.COURTESY
LOVE’S perfect blossom only blows

Where noble manners veil defect.

Angels may be familiar; those

Who err each other must respect.