Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — The Nature Of Love

To noble heart Love doth for shelter fly, As seeks the bird the forest's leafy shade; Love was not felt till noble heart beat high, Nor before love the noble heart was made.        &nbsp Soon as the sun's broad flame Was formed, so soon the clear light filled the air;        &nbsp Yet was not till he came: So love springs up in noble breasts, and there        &nbsp Has its appointed space, As heat in the bright flames finds its allotted place. Kindles in noble heart the fire of love, As hidden virtue in the precious stone: This virtue comes not from the stars above, Till round it the ennobling sun has shone;        &nbsp But when his powerful blaze Has drawn forth what was vile, the stars impart        &nbsp Strange virtue in their rays; And thus when Nature doth create the heart        &nbsp Noble and pure and high, Like virtue from the star, love comes from woman's eye.