Quote#God & Faith
Why, having won her, do I woo?
Quote byCoventry Patmore · 1823–1896
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Angel in the House (1854), Book II, Canto XII, I The Married Lover..
English (original)
Why, having won her, do I woo? Because her spirit's vestal grace Provokes me always to pursue, But, spirit-like, eludes embrace.[…] Because though free of the outer court I am, this Temple keeps its shrine Sacred to Heaven; because, in short, She's not and never can be mine.
— Coventry Patmore
More from Coventry Patmore
Kind souls, you wonder why, love you, When you, you wonder why, love none. We love, Fool, for the good we do, Not that which unto us is done!
Ah, wasteful woman, she who may On her sweet self set her own price, Knowing man cannot choose but pay, How has she cheapen'd paradise; How given for nought her priceless gift, How spoil'd the bread and spill'd the wine,
Strong passions mean weak will, and he Who truly knows the strength and bliss Which are in love, will own with me No passion but a virtue 'tis.
How amiable and innocent Her pleasure in her power to charm!
Grant me the power of saying things Too simple and too sweet for words!
Love wakes men, once a lifetime each; They lift their heavy lids, and look; And, lo, what one sweet page can teach, They read with joy, then shut the book.