Tannhäuser

Cover the shameless belly, and forget The cunning attitudes and aptitudes ! Unlearn the mowings, the lascivious grins ! I perceive purity. Venus. Nay, I have loved thee ! Fresh pleasure hourly filled the crystal cup. Shalt thou find wine so comely and so keen, So fresh with life to fill each aching vein With new electric fervour ? Will she be My equal ? She is mortal and a child. Her arms are frail and white. Her lily cheeks Could never take thy kiss. Thy love would shock, Repel. I scorn to say her love were less Than mine : I tell thee that she could not love Thee even at all as thou wouldst understand. Tannhauser. So certain art thou ? Let me go to her, Try, and come back ! Venus. No doubt of that success ! A child is easy to degrade ! 70