Love, The Victor

Time was, O Love, when I a vassal knelt, Obedient, at the footstool of thy throne; When all my life was thine--yea, every thought Thy very own. Yet, when I hungered most, and prayed that thou Wouldst give to me some little that I gave, Thou didst but mock me, knowing what I was-- Thy willing slave. Yet, though fast bound in shackle and in chain. Pride rose in me, and thou wert cast aside; And long I blessed the day when thou from me Wenst forth and died. How long ago it was I broke my thrall! How long since I have kept apart from thee, Vowing that nevermore my heart should know Thy tyranny! And yet today I felt the old desire, After long years of freedom from thy reign; And I have dreamed, full many a night, of Love's Exquisite pain. No strength of mine can hold thee back, O Love! I thought that I was safe beyond thy will; But after long, long years, lo! here am I, Obedient still!