"Faithful to the end" By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

"Faithful to the end" Amended [1] From the Heavenly Clause [2] Constancy with a Proviso [3] Constancy abhors [4] "Crowns of Life" are servile Prizes [5] To the stately Heart, [6] Given for the Giving, solely, [7] No Emolument. [8] [9] "Faithful to the end" Amended [10] From the Heavenly clause [11] Lucrative indeed the offer [12] But the Heart withdraws [13] "I will give" the base Proviso [14] Spare Your "Crown of Life" [15] Those it fits, too fair to wear it [16] Try it on Yourself [17]
Poem 1357 [F1386] ""Faithful to the end" amended" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

Emily has in mind the promise of the writer of Revelation to the church at Smyrna, 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life' (Revelation 2:10). She wants 'faithful to the end' to be deleted from this promise, as true 'Constancy abhors a Proviso.' Anyway the 'stately heart' of the free man does not want the prize of 'a crown of life.' That is only for slaves. Constancy is given for its own sake. No prize or 'Emolument' is needed. Version II of this poem is printed only by Johnson. Its second stanza is perhaps saying, 'As for this 'I will give you a crown of life' with its 'base Proviso' forget it. The writer of Revelation should try it on himself!'
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