The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and

"The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and puts her trust in miracles for safety." These evocative words from Edward Young speak to the fragility of love, the vulnerability inherent in placing one's heart and soul in the hands of another. Young compares the act of loving to a perilous voyage, where the maiden—trusting in something beyond her control—sets forth on a journey fraught with uncertainty and risk. The shattered plank symbolizes the precariousness of the heart when it opens itself to love, often vulnerable to the storms of betrayal, disappointment, and heartache. And yet, in this act of love, the maiden trusts in miracles, in something greater than the ordinary, something transcendent that promises safety in the face of overwhelming danger. It is the profound trust in the unknown that makes love both powerful and perilous.

In the ancient world, love was seen not just as an emotion, but as a force that could propel people to great heights or cast them into the depths of despair. The Greeks, in their exploration of love in mythology, often portrayed love as a force that could drive individuals to act in ways that defied reason. Orpheus, the great musician, ventured into the Underworld to reclaim his lost wife, Eurydice, believing that his love for her would overcome the laws of life and death. Yet, in his moment of doubt, he looked back, and in that instant, his love was shattered. The shattered plank is like Orpheus’ journey—a voyage driven by love’s power but held together by fragile faith. The lesson is clear: love is not without peril, and it often requires a leap of faith into the unknown, trusting in something greater than reason.

Rome also understood the dangers of love. The tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet, which later echoed through Shakespeare's works, reminds us of the price of love in a world filled with division and strife. These two lovers—like the maiden on the shattered plank—place their trust in the belief that their love can overcome the forces that divide them. They embark on a journey with no guarantee of success, knowing that their love may either elevate them to eternal bliss or pull them into destruction. In this sense, their trust in love is akin to the maiden’s trust in miracles—it is blind, powerful, and potentially devastating. Yet, in this very trust, the beauty of love’s willingness to risk is revealed.

Young's metaphor also speaks to a deeper spiritual truth. Trusting in miracles reflects the faith we often must place in something beyond ourselves, whether in the divine, the universe, or the goodness of humanity. The maiden does not sail upon the sea of love with solid guarantees, but with an inner belief that something beyond the tangible will guide her safely to her destination. This faith in the unseen is not unlike the faith that religious figures have often called for—Abraham, in his journey to sacrifice his son, Isaac, followed an inner voice that demanded the ultimate trust in something far beyond understanding. In this act, as in the maiden’s journey, there is surrender, and a willingness to believe in the impossible.

The ancient philosophers understood that love and trust are central to the human experience. Socrates himself often spoke of the importance of trust in relationships, not just with others but with one’s own soul. To trust in love, Socrates believed, was to trust in the goodness of the world, despite the chaos and hardship we may face. He emphasized that it is only through love—whether romantic, familial, or spiritual—that we can truly understand our place in the world. Like the maiden on her plank, we must learn to trust not only in love but in our own capacity for vulnerability, knowing that without this risk, we will never experience the full depth of what it means to be human.

In the modern world, trust in love often seems more precarious than ever. We live in a time when relationships can be fleeting, when the planks of commitment seem to fracture easily. Yet, the lesson remains: love requires vulnerability and faith, even when the world seems uncertain. Just as the maiden embarks upon her journey with a shattered plank, we too must face the unknowns of life with hope and trust that the miraculous may guide us. Whether in romantic love, the love for family, or even the love we hold for our fellow human beings, we must be willing to step into the unknown with an open heart, ready to surrender to the possibility of great joy or great sorrow.

The wisdom in Young's words lies in the courage to trust and love despite the inherent risks. Love, by its nature, is a journey into the unknown, one where faith and trust guide us through both light and darkness. The lesson for us, then, is clear: while love may often feel like a leap across a vast chasm, it is the only path through which we can truly understand ourselves and others. Like the maiden on her plank, we must choose to trust in the miracles of love, knowing that while the risks are great, the rewards—joy, connection, and growth—are worth every leap of faith. Let us embrace the journey, for it is in the willingness to risk our hearts that we find the deepest meaning of life.