Tuesday, February 02, 2016

FOR THE LOVE YOU BEAR TO MEN

I struck lucky this evening in the book, and the first line, that chance gave me.
Dictionary of Shakespeare Quotations (Everyman's Reference Library). Page 119, from "As you Like it":

O WOMEN, FOR THE LOVE YOU BEAR TO MEN 

for that sudden urgent lawless yen
for Harry or Barry or Bob or Ben,
you will be charged with wanton lust
and with betraying someone's trust. 


But for Barry, Bob or Bill or Harry
the rules are different, and if they marry,
the power of that sudden flame
they will deny. It's just a game,
a game men play,
a brief delusion, they will say.

O women, plead guilty if you're caught
or hide your glee if you are not.
But in your heart (so shy, so pure)
O tell me, tell me, are you sure
that flame which burned so fierce, so real,
was not put there for you to steal?

2 comments:

Vincent said...

This completely works for me. Encore!

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

Thanks Vincent, it works for me too. The best part of this game is that I have no idea what will come next. Watch this space!