<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Delay Not, Love</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">DELAY not, Love, lest what I have of power</p><p class="line">To hold against Thou come, my marriage-dower.</p><p class="line">Be conjured, through some unbelief of mine</p><p class="line">That doubts Thee or Thy coming, to assign</p><p class="line">Itself to another lord, and so betray</p><p class="line">My will to accomplish his desire:--delay</p><p class="line">Thy coming to my government no longer,</p><p class="line">So many a foe have I--but Thou art stronger.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When I behold the promise of the world</p><p class="line">Blighted, and all a kindly people hurled</p><p class="line">In God's face with a lie by one mad will--</p><p class="line">Love, I know hardly how to endure until</p><p class="line">My little kingdom be possessed by Thee,</p><p class="line">There comes so many a royal treachery</p><p class="line">To impose upon my will--so many a claimant</p><p class="line">To power, kingly and clad in shining raiment.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I am not unacquainted with Thee, Love,</p><p class="line">But to know Thee a little is not enough.</p><p class="line">Loving a little, must I not admit</p><p class="line">These that look like Thee?--Whole and infinite</p><p class="line">Is my necessity for all Thou art.</p><p class="line">Henceforth I will do naught from Thee apart</p><p class="line">That, love being all my business and profession,</p><p class="line">All of my being may be in Thy possession.</p></div></body></html> · Great War