The mission—The fifth Two

(The Saviour of the World, Vol III Book IV Poem XLVIII)

“Nay, foolish fellow, I have wed a wife!
Know what that means and you may talk of life!
What’s this of Kingdom, pearls, a Lord t’ obey?
The word shall rule me, my own wife doth say!
’Tis but a few days since I made her mine;
Scarce have I watched her eyes grow soft and shine,—
And ye would have me turn my thoughts away
From her, delight of days! Why, e’en the Law
Allows a man a year ere it would draw
Him from his new-made wife for any cause;
Are ye, poor dreamers, greater than our laws?
Ye talk of faith and joy and that vast prize
He takes who lays up treasure in the skies:—
’Tis here and now that I my treasure taste;
There’s nought but love; and he whose hope is based
On love of wife or child or tender friend,
Their fond embraces, of his days, the end;—
Why that man takes and eats, as he goes on,
Of fullest joy man knows beneath the sun!”
So prated he, and sealed th’ Apostles’ lips;
For who in fleshly slough his senses dips,
His thought is drowned: of Christ, what need hath he,
In sensual transports, all whose raptures be?