Page:The New Life (Rossetti 1899) Siddal ed.djvu/62

56 written: Nomina sunt consequentia rerum." And the fourth was this: "The lady whom Love hath chosen out to govern thee is not as other ladies, whose hearts are easily moved."

And by each one of these thoughts I was so sorely assailed that I was like unto him who doubteth which path to take, and wishing to go, goeth not. And if I bethought myself to seek out some point at the which all these paths might be found to meet, I discerned but one way, and that irked me; to wit, to call upon Pity, and to commend myself unto her. And it was then that, feeling a desire to write somewhat thereof in rhyme, I wrote this sonnet:—

my thoughts always speak to me of Love,

Yet have between themselves such difference

That while one bids me bow with mind and sense,

A second saith, "Go to: look thou above;"