Were Love Only For Delight

Were love only for delight,

Than more lightly should I this heavy burden take,

Which calls that I should love mankind.

Paths, once narrow, now are strait,

And my supplications I offer up

That I can understand:

Can there be more source than one

Who calls that I could love mankind?

What foundation should I my master make?

Were love for pleasure only,

And not for sadness,

And for strength,

Then I could let this question be the light of fire,

And the ash of wooden things,

And I could throw it to the wind.

How should I love mankind?