The Book of Thel. Part III

Art thou a Worm? image of weakness, art thou but a Worm?

I see thee like an infant wrapped in the Lillys leaf;

Ah weep not little voice, thou can'st not speak, but thou can'st weep:

Is this a Worm? I see they lay helpless & naked: weeping

And none to answer, none to cherish thee with mothers smiles.

The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice & rais'd her pitying head:

She bowd over the weeping infant, and her life exhald

In milky fondness, then on Thel she fix'd her humble eyes;

O beauty of the vales of Har, we live not for ourselves,

Thou seest me the meanest thing, and so I am indeed:

My bosom of itself is cold, and of itself is dark,

But he that loves the lowly, pours his oil upon my head

And kisses me, and binds his nuptial bands around my breast.

And says; Thou mother of my children, I have loved thee

And I have given thee a crown that none can take away.

But how this is sweet maid, I know not, and I cannot know

I ponder, and I cannot ponder; yet I live and love.

The daughter of beauty wip'd her pitying tears with her white veil,

And said, Alas! I knew not this, and therefore did I weep:

That God would love a Worm I knew, and punish the evil foot

That wilful bruis'd its helpless form: but that he cherish'd it

With milk and oil I never knew, and therefore did I weep,

And I complaind in the mild air, because I fade away.

And lay me down in thy cold bed, and leave my shining lot.

Queen of the vales, the matron Clay answered: I heard thy sighs.

And all thy moans flew o'er my roof, but I have call'd them down:

Wilt thou O Queen enter my house, tis given thee to enter,

And to return: fear nothing, enter with thy virgin feet.