CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

470 MEN AND WOMEN
Pain-twisted, punctured through and through with
cares,
There lived a lavish soul until it starved
Debarred all healthy food. Look to the soul­
Pity that, stoop to that, ere you begin
(fhe true man's way) on justice and your rights,
Exactions and acquittance of the past.
Begin so-see what justice she will deal I
We women bate a debt as men a gift.
Suppose her some poor keeper of a school
Whose business is to sit lhro' summer-months
And dole out children's leave to go and play,
Herself superior to such lightness-she
In tbe arm-chair's state and predagogic pomp,
To the life, the laughtrr, sun and youth outside­
We wonder such an one looks black on us?
I do not bid you wake her tenderness,
-That were vain truly-none is left to wake­
But, let her think her justice is engaged
To take the shape of tenderness, and mark
If she'll not coldly do its wannest deed!
Does she love me, I ask you? not a whit.
Yet, thinking that her justice was engaged
To help a kinswoman, she took me up-
Did more on that bare ground than other loves
Would do on greater argument. For me,
I have no equivalent of that cold kind
To pay her with; my love alone to give
If I give anything. I give her love.
I feel I ough to help bel', and I will.
So for her sal