The Book of Thel. Part III

2Art thou a Worm? image of weakness, art thou but a Worm?

3I see thee like an infant wrapped in the Lillys leaf;

4Ah weep not little voice, thou can'st not speak, but thou can'st weep:

5Is this a Worm? I see they lay helpless & naked: weeping

6And none to answer, none to cherish thee with mothers smiles.

7The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice & rais'd her pitying head:

8She bowd over the weeping infant, and her life exhald

9In milky fondness, then on Thel she fix'd her humble eyes;

10O beauty of the vales of Har, we live not for ourselves,

11Thou seest me the meanest thing, and so I am indeed:

12My bosom of itself is cold, and of itself is dark,

13But he that loves the lowly, pours his oil upon my head

14And kisses me, and binds his nuptial bands around my breast.

15And says; Thou mother of my children, I have loved thee

16And I have given thee a crown that none can take away.

17But how this is sweet maid, I know not, and I cannot know

18I ponder, and I cannot ponder; yet I live and love.

19The daughter of beauty wip'd her pitying tears with her white veil,

20And said, Alas! I knew not this, and therefore did I weep:

21That God would love a Worm I knew, and punish the evil foot

22That wilful bruis'd its helpless form: but that he cherish'd it

23With milk and oil I never knew, and therefore did I weep,

24And I complaind in the mild air, because I fade away.

25And lay me down in thy cold bed, and leave my shining lot.

26Queen of the vales, the matron Clay answered: I heard thy sighs.

27And all thy moans flew o'er my roof, but I have call'd them down:

28Wilt thou O Queen enter my house, tis given thee to enter,

29And to return: fear nothing, enter with thy virgin feet.