15. Men tell me of truth now "False!" I cry: Of beauty-"A mask, friend! Look beneath!" We take our own method, the Devil and I, And the best we wish to what lives, is death; 16. Far better commit a fault and have done As you, dear! forever; and choose the pure, And look where the healing waters run, And strive and strain to be good again, 17. Misery! What shall I say or do? I cannot advise, or, at least, persuade : Most like, you are glad you deceived me No whit of the wrong: you endured too long, Have done no evil and want no aid, Will live the old life out and chance the new. 18. And your sentence is written all the same, If I if I curse, pray, for better or worse: And my faith is torn to a thousand scraps, And my heart feels ice while my words breathe flame. 19. Dear, I look from my hiding-place. Are you still so fair? Have you still the eyes? Be happy! Add but the other grace, Be good! Why want what the angels vaunt? I knew you once: but in Paradise, If we meet, I will pass nor turn my face. |