| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
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| 201. A Persian Apologue |
| By Samuel Waddington (b. 1844) |
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| LOVE came to crave sweet love, if love might be; | |
| To the Belovëd’s door he came, and knocked:— | |
| ‘And who art thou?’ she asked,—‘we know not thee!’ | |
| Then shyly listened, nor the door unlocked. | |
| Love answered, ‘It is I!’ ‘Nay, thee and me | 5 |
| This house will never hold.’—’Twas thus she mocked | |
| His piteous quest; and, weeping, home went he, | |
| While thro’ the night the moaning plane-tree rocked. | |
| Three seasons sped, and lo, again Love came; | |
| Again he knocked; again in simple wise, | 10 |
| ‘Pray, who is there?’ she asked,—‘What is thy name?’ | |
| But Love had learnt the magic of replies,— | |
| ‘It is Thyself!’ he whispered, and behold, | |
| The door was opened, and love’s mystery told. | |
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