Poem by George Meredith

Modern Love. Sonnet 10. But where Began the Change

But where began the change; and what's my crime?
The wretch condemned, who has not been arraigned,
Chafes at his sentence. Shall I, unsustained,
Drag on Love's nerveless body thro' all time?
I must have slept, since now I wake. Prepare,
You lovers, to know Love a thing of moods:
Not like hard life, of laws. In Love's deep woods,
I dreamt of loyal Life: -- The offence is there!
Love's jealous woods about the sun are curled;
At least the sun far brighter there did beam. --
My crime is, that the puppet of a dream,
I plotted to be worthy of the world.
Oh, had I with my darling helped to mince
The facts of life, you still had seen me go
With hindward feather and with forward toe,
Her much-adored delightful Fairy Prince! 

1. Modern Love. Sonnet 24. The Misery is Greater, as I Live!
2. Hawarden
3. On Como
4. Modern Love. Sonnet 2. It Ended
5. Empdeocles

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