My
love is like to ice, and I like fire:
How
come it then that this her cold is so great
Is
not dissolved through my so hot desire,
But
harder grows the more I her entreat?
Or
how comes it that my exceeding heat
Is
not allayed by her heart-frozen cold,
But
that I burn much more in boiling sweat,
And
feel my flames augmented manifold?
What
more miraculous thing may be told.
That
fire, which is congealed with senseless cold,
Should
kindle fire by wonderful device?
Such
is the power of love in gentle mind.
That
it can alter all the course of kind.
Vocabulary:
entreat: to beg very seriously or without pride; implore
She entreated us to help her.
allay: to make (fear, anger, doubt, etc.) less strong; calm; reduce in strength or severity
I hope this statement will allay the public's fears.
augment: to (cause to) become bigger, more valuable, better, etc
He augments his income by teaching in the evenings.
manifold: many in number and/or kind
The problems facing the government are manifold.
her manifold talents
congealed: to become or cause (a liquid) to become thick or solid
The soup had congealed by the time we returned.
congealed blood
kindle: to (cause to) start burning
to kindle a fire
I'm afraid our publicity campaign failed to kindle much interest among the public.
