Verse > Anthologies > Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. > The Oxford Book of English Verse
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Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
  
Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. b. 1840
  
819. To Manon, on his Fortune in loving Her
  
I DID not choose thee, dearest. It was Love 
That made the choice, not I. Mine eyes were blind 
As a rude shepherd's who to some lone grove 
His offering brings and cares not at what shrine 
He bends his knee. The gifts alone were mine;         5
The rest was Love's. He took me by the hand, 
And fired the sacrifice, and poured the wine, 
And spoke the words I might not understand. 
  I was unwise in all but the dear chance 
Which was my fortune, and the blind desire  10
Which led my foolish steps to Love's abode, 
And youth's sublime unreason'd prescience 
Which raised an altar and inscribed in fire 
Its dedication To the Unknown God. 
 
 
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