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 Modern Love XII: Not Solely That the Future by George Meredith 
						Not solely that the Future she destroys, And the fair life which in the distance lies
 For all men, beckoning out from dim rich skies:
 Nor that the passing hour's supporting joys
 Have lost the keen-edged flavour, which begat
 Distinction in old times, and still should breed
 Sweet Memory, and Hope,--earth's modest seed,
 And heaven's high-prompting: not that the world is flat
 Since that soft-luring creature I embraced,
 Among the children of Illusion went:
 Methinks with all this loss I were content,
 If the mad Past, on which my foot is based,
 Were firm, or might be blotted: but the whole
 Of life is mixed: the mocking Past will stay:
 And if I drink oblivion of a day,
 So shorten I the stature of my soul.
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