I have not yet forgot myself to stone
To update your romantic souls a little...
Here, have a little read!
It's a part of the 1717 poem Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope (I already told Plot an extensive lot about it), such a beautiful poem, inspired by the 12th century story of Héloise and Pierre Abélard, and you shall if not read the entire poem, at least read this bit (Eloisa/Héloise is locked away in a monastery, as well as Abelard, because they once married in secret, against the will of Héloise's family, who then had Abelard castrated. Abelard is cut off from sexual longing or frustration, but Héloise still feels the same burning desire for Abelard as she once did, and so she goes on and dies alone, in love with a man, in battle with God)
Ev'n here, where frozen chastity retires,
Love finds an altar for forbidden fires.
I ought to grieve, but cannot what I ought;
I mourn the lover, not lament the fault;
I view my crime, but kindle at the view,
Repent old pleasures, and solicit new;
Now turn'd to Heav'n, I weep my past offence,
Now think of thee, and curse my innocence.
Of all affliction taught a lover yet,
'Tis sure the hardest science to forget!
How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense,
And love th' offender, yet detest th' offence?
How the dear object from the crime remove,
Or how distinguish penitence from love?
Unequal task! a passion to resign,
For hearts so touch'd, so pierc'd, so lost as mine.
Ere such a soul regains its peaceful state,
How often must it love, how often hate!
How often hope, despair, resent, regret,
Conceal, disdain - do all things but forget.
But let Heav'n seize it, all at once 'tis fir'd;
Not touch'd, but rapt; not waken'd, but inspir'd!
Oh come! oh teach me nature to subdue,
Renounce my love, my life, myself - and you.
Fill my fond heart with God alone, for he
Alone can rival, can succeed to thee.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
The three italic sentences are those that are used in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which got its title from this beautiful piece of Alexander Pope!
Here, have a little read!
It's a part of the 1717 poem Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope (I already told Plot an extensive lot about it), such a beautiful poem, inspired by the 12th century story of Héloise and Pierre Abélard, and you shall if not read the entire poem, at least read this bit (Eloisa/Héloise is locked away in a monastery, as well as Abelard, because they once married in secret, against the will of Héloise's family, who then had Abelard castrated. Abelard is cut off from sexual longing or frustration, but Héloise still feels the same burning desire for Abelard as she once did, and so she goes on and dies alone, in love with a man, in battle with God)
Ev'n here, where frozen chastity retires,
Love finds an altar for forbidden fires.
I ought to grieve, but cannot what I ought;
I mourn the lover, not lament the fault;
I view my crime, but kindle at the view,
Repent old pleasures, and solicit new;
Now turn'd to Heav'n, I weep my past offence,
Now think of thee, and curse my innocence.
Of all affliction taught a lover yet,
'Tis sure the hardest science to forget!
How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense,
And love th' offender, yet detest th' offence?
How the dear object from the crime remove,
Or how distinguish penitence from love?
Unequal task! a passion to resign,
For hearts so touch'd, so pierc'd, so lost as mine.
Ere such a soul regains its peaceful state,
How often must it love, how often hate!
How often hope, despair, resent, regret,
Conceal, disdain - do all things but forget.
But let Heav'n seize it, all at once 'tis fir'd;
Not touch'd, but rapt; not waken'd, but inspir'd!
Oh come! oh teach me nature to subdue,
Renounce my love, my life, myself - and you.
Fill my fond heart with God alone, for he
Alone can rival, can succeed to thee.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
The three italic sentences are those that are used in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which got its title from this beautiful piece of Alexander Pope!