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A valentines day thought...
by klatu
From The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: Paradisio:

Call it not love, for Love to heaven is fled
Since sweating lust on earth usurp'd His name.
Under whose simple semblance man hath fed
upon fresh beauty blotting it with blame,
Which the hot tyranny stains and soon bereaves
As caterpillers do the tender leaves.

Love comforteth like sunshine after rain
but lusts effect is tempest after sun,
Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain
Lust's winter comes ere summer half be done.
Love surfeits not love like a glutton dies,
Love ins all truth, lust full of forged lies.

http://www.energon.org.uk
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