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- FRIENDS
-
- NOW must I these three praise --
- Three women that have wrought
- What joy is in my days:
- One because no thought,
- Nor those unpassing cares,
- No, not in these fifteen
- Many-times-troubled years,
- Could ever come between
- Mind and delighted mind;
- And one because her hand
- Had strength that could unbind
- What none can understand,
- What none can have and thrive,
- Youth's dreamy load, till she
- So changed me that I live
- Labouring in ecstasy.
- And what of her that took
- All till my youth was gone
- With scarce a pitying look?
- How could I praise that one?
- When day begins to break
- I count my good and bad,
- Being wakeful for her sake,
- Remembering what she had,
- What eagle look still shows,
- While up from my heart's root
- So great a sweetness flows
- I shake from head to foot.
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