English poem
Plate 81
I have mockd those who refused cruelty & I have admired The cruel Warrior. I have refused to give love to Merlin the piteous. He brings to me the Images of his Love & I reject in chastity And turn them out into the streets for Harlots to be food To the stern Warrior. I am become perfect in beauty over my Warrior For Men are caught by Love: Woman is caught by Pride That Love may only be obtaind in the passages of Death.
Text of the illustration:
In Heaven the only Art of Living Is Forgetting & Forgiving Especially to the Female But if you on Earth Forgive You shall not find where to Live
Let us look! let us examine! is the Cruel become an Infant Or is he still a cruel Warrior? look Sisters, look! O piteous I have destroyd Wandring Reuben who strove to bind my Will I have stripd off Josephs beautiful integument for my Beloved, The Cruel-one of Albion: to clothe him in gems of my Zone I have Named him Jehovah of Hosts. Humanity is become A weeping Infant in ruind lovely Jerusalems folding Cloud: In Heaven Love begets Love! but Fear is the Parent of Earthly Love! And he who will not bend to Love must be subdud by Fear,