Society and the World

In every cry of every man, In every infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forg’d manacles I hear.

But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot’s curse Blasts the newborn infant’s tear And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.

But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot’s curse Blasts the newborn infant’s tear And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.

Love seeketh not itself to please, Nor for itself hath any care, But for another gives its ease, And builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.

Love seeketh only self to please, To bind another to its delight, Joys in another’s loss of ease, And builds a Hell in Heaven’s despite.

What is it men in women do require? The lineaments of Gratified Desire. What is it women do in men require? The lineaments of Gratified Desire.

Love to faults is always blind, Always is to joy inclin’d, Lawless, wing’d, and unconfin’d, And breaks all chains from every mind.

I ask’d a thief to steal me a peach: He turned up his eyes. I ask’d a lithe lady to lie her down: Holy and meek, she cries. As soon as I went An angel came. He wink’d at the thief And smil’d at the dame— And without one word said Had a peach from the tree, And still as a maid Enjoy’d the lady.

For every thing that lives is Holy.

One Law for the Lion & Ox is Oppression.

One Law for the Lion & Ox is Oppression.

Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires.

Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night.

No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.

Can I see another’s woe, And not be in sorrow too? Can I see another’s grief, And not seek for kind relief?

And all must love the human form, In heathen, turk, or jew; Where Mercy, Love, & Pity dwell There God is dwelling too.

He loves to sit and hear me sing, Then, laughing, sports and plays with me; Then stretches out my golden wing, And mocks my loss of liberty.

Through all the drama—whether damned or not— Love gilds the scene, and women guide the plot.

In limitations he first shows himself the master, And the law can only bring us freedom.

In limitations he first shows himself the master, And the law can only bring us freedom.

Of freedom and of life he only is deserving Who every day must conquer them anew. 13

The deed is everything, the glory nothing.

Law is mighty, mightier necessity.

A true German can’t stand the French, Yet willingly he drinks their wines.