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’Tis not another, but the same,

Though paler mayst thou deem the flame,

And less intense. Of fairer hope

Thou’lt find this love, and wider scope,

For, leaving special loves, thy mind

Shall clasp the whole of human-kind

In large embrace. No one apart

Should claim the fulness of thy heart,

But every living man should be

Joined in one vast fraternity,

Loving the human race as one,

Yet giving special love to none.

Mete out such measure as ye fain

From others would receive again:

Pursue thy fellow in such guise

Alone, as thou in equal wise

Wouldst be pursued, and freely give

Quittance of debt, if thou wouldst live

By all beloved—such love should sway

The lives of men from day to day.

It is because unrighteous folk

Refuse to bear the gentle yoke

Of this fair love that it hath been

Needful to set the judge as screen

To shield the weak against the strong,

Uphold the right and quell the wrong,

To reprimand and punish those

Who rob their neighbours and dispose

Their hands to evil, and so shame

This love I tell of, and defame

Good men with foul detracting speech,

And (founts of ill example) teach