"I Said to Love" -- By Thomas Hardy

I said to Love,
"It is not now as in old days
When men adored you and your ways
All else above;
Named you the Boy, the Bright, the One
Who spread a heaven beneath the sun,"
I said to Love.

I said to him,
"We now know more of you than then;
We were but weak in judgment when,
With hearts abrim,
We clamoured you that you would please
Inflict on us your agonies,"
I said to him.

I said to Love,
"You are not young, you are not fair,
No fairy darts, no cherub air,
Nor swan, nor dove
Are you; but features pitiless,
And iron daggers of distress,"
I said to Love.

"Depart then, Love! . . .
- Man's race shall end, do threaten thou?
The age to come the man of now
Know nothing of? -
We fear not such a threat from you;
We are too old in apathy!
Mankind shall cease.--So let it be,"
I said to Love.