3038
The White Rose
Ivrae
Alas, how unprepared I was at first that day when Love came to wound me, and step by step made himself the lord of my life, and took his place at the head. I did not think that rasping power of his could ever lessen by a jot the firmness or the strength of my well-tempered heart: but so it is when we overestimate the truth. From now on all defence comes too late, other than to prove whether Love listens to mortal prayers much, or little. I do not pray, since there is no purpose, that my heart should ever burn less fiercely, but only that he might share part of the fire.