| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. b. 1840 |
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| 819. To Manon, on his Fortune in loving Her |
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| I DID not choose thee, dearest. It was Love | |
| That made the choice, not I. Mine eyes were blind | |
| As a rude shepherd's who to some lone grove | |
| His offering brings and cares not at what shrine | |
| He bends his knee. The gifts alone were mine; | 5 |
| The rest was Love's. He took me by the hand, | |
| And fired the sacrifice, and poured the wine, | |
| And spoke the words I might not understand. | |
| I was unwise in all but the dear chance | |
| Which was my fortune, and the blind desire | 10 |
| Which led my foolish steps to Love's abode, | |
| And youth's sublime unreason'd prescience | |
| Which raised an altar and inscribed in fire | |
| Its dedication To the Unknown God. | |
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