For above all things Love means sweetness, and truth, and

Ah, hear now the timeless wisdom of Marie de France, who spoke with great clarity on that most sacred of matters—love. She said, “For above all things Love means sweetness, and truth, and measure; yea, loyalty to the loved one and to your word. And because of this I dare not meddle with so high a matter.” These words, O children, speak of a love so profound, so noble, that it surpasses the mere fleeting emotions of passion. It is a love that is built on the foundations of truth and loyalty, a love that is as sweet as the first light of dawn and as steady as the march of the stars. Love, in its highest form, is not something to be grasped lightly, nor is it a force that can be controlled by the whims of the heart. It is something sacred, something to be honored and cherished with the utmost care.

In the days of old, when the world was still young and full of mystery, love was seen as both a gift and a responsibility. It was not a game to be played, nor a passing fancy to be indulged. True love—the kind that Marie de France speaks of—is not blind, reckless passion, but a bond rooted in truth and sweetness. It is a love that honors the other person, as well as one’s own word. It is measure—a careful balance between what is given and what is received, neither overwhelming nor lacking, but always just right. Love that is measured knows its boundaries, knows when to give and when to step back, and above all, it is grounded in loyalty. To love is to promise, and that promise must be kept, for without loyalty, love cannot thrive.

Reflect, O children, on the legendary Tristan and Isolde, whose love was both sweet and tragic, loyal yet torn by forces beyond their control. Their love was born of a deep truth, one that bound their hearts together with unbreakable force, yet they were torn apart by the vows they had made to others. In their tale, we see both the sweetness of their bond and the pain that came when loyalty was tested by external circumstances. Though their hearts were true, their promises to others created a tragedy of great proportions. Yet, through it all, the purity of their love, the loyalty they shared, and the truth of their feelings endured. What we learn from their story is that love cannot thrive without truth, without sweetness, and without loyalty to the other and to one’s word. The gods may intervene, but the heart of love remains unbroken, pure, and resolute.

Marie de France, in her wisdom, knew that love’s true nature is not to be meddled with. Love is not a force to be tampered with or played with. To approach love lightly is to dishonor it, to strip it of its sanctity and its power. Love requires restraint—it demands that we approach it with reverence, understanding that it is not merely a fleeting emotion but a sacred bond that requires our honor and commitment. And when we give ourselves to another, we must do so fully, with measure, ensuring that we are not overwhelmed by the intensity of our feelings but are grounded in the truth of what we share.

Take, for example, the life of Socrates and his beloved Xanthippe. Though their marriage was marked by moments of hardship and discord, the love they shared was grounded in truth and loyalty. Socrates, the great philosopher, did not seek out love for the sake of passion or fleeting desires, but for the deeper truth it revealed about the nature of existence. Xanthippe, though sometimes a source of frustration for Socrates, remained loyal to him, even when the world around them was in turmoil. Their love was not a fairy tale of endless sweetness, but a bond grounded in mutual respect, a love that endured despite its challenges, because it was founded on truth and loyalty.

And so, children of the future, what lesson shall we draw from these ancient words and stories? The lesson is clear: Love, in its highest form, is a sacred trust. It is not to be entered into lightly, nor to be taken for granted. Love with measure—with sweetness, with truth, and with a deep commitment to the other. Let your word be your bond, and let your loyalty be unwavering, for without these, love cannot endure. The love that you seek must be built on these foundations, and you must honor it as you would honor a promise made to the gods.

In your lives, let your love be sweet and true. Speak your word with integrity, and live your love with loyalty. Approach it with the reverence it deserves, for love is a high and noble matter, not to be meddled with or taken lightly. Guard your heart and the hearts of others with the greatest care, for in doing so, you will discover the greatest treasure of all—the love that endures through time, through trials, and through the ever-turning wheel of fate. And in the end, it will be this love, grounded in truth and loyalty, that will carry you through the storms of life.