(271-273) Works of Love V
The lover hides the multiplicity of sins in a mitigating explanation
Every action has an explanation
We make that by our choice
And use that power in condemnation
The true lover will choose "rejoice"
Others may explain all as guilt
The lover mitigates it away
We can take sin up to its hilt
Or the multiplicity we can allay
When we practice this mitigation
We taste life's joys most beautiful
Become more passionate in our intention
To explain sin in ways most useful
Through this we become more inventive
Expand all our alternatives
Love itself gives us incentive
To find the best of what's explanative
In that way we hide sin's multiplicity
The blessed nobility of the human heart
We can find the good with great facility
By making such choices at the start
Many are burdened by hidden weights
That can distort their actions
To condemn them we don't hesitate
Although it offers scant satisfaction
In all things love does believe
And in all things love hopes
We can mitigate sin to limit grief
And give our love its greatest scope