Classic Poem

Jesus, Thy sweetness who might it see
And thereof have a clear knowing,
All earthly love should bitter be
Save Thine alone without lesing,
I pray Thee, Lord, that lore teach me
After Thy love to have longing
And firmly set my heart on Thee
In Thy love to have most liking.

So sweet a love in earth none is:
Could but our souls Him soothly see
Him to love were mickel bliss;
For King of Love called is He.
With steadfast love I yearn for this,
That fast to Him I bound may be,
That my heart should be so much His
That nothing liked me but He.

The love of earth His passeth certis
All earthly love that may be here:
God and Man my Spouse He is:
Well ought I wretch to love Him dear.
Both heaven and earth wholly is His,
He is Lord of mighty power;
Called He is the King of Bliss —
His love me longeth for to lere.

For pity mine heart should break in two,
To His kindness if I took heed;
Since cause I was of all His woe,
He suffered hard for my misdeed.
To lasting life that I should go,
He suffered death in His manhede.
And when His will was to live also
Again He rose through His Godhede.

Thus would my Leman for me fight
And for me was He wounded sore;
For love of me His death was dight;
Surely love could do no more!
To yield His love have I no might:
I can but love Him more therefore,
And work right well at those works right
That He me taught with lovely lore.

His lovely lore with work fulfill —
So should I do if I were kind;
Night and day to work His will,
And ever have my Lord in mind.
But ghostly foes do grieve me ill,
And my frail flesh does make me blind;
Therefore His mercy I take me till
For better help can I none find.

Jesus, for the sweetness that is in Thee
Have mind of me when I hence wend;
With steadfast truth uphold my wits
And, Lord, Thou shield me from the fiend!
For Thy mercy forgive my miss;
That wicked deeds me may not schende
Then lead me, Lord, into Thy bliss
With Thee to dwell withouten end.