Which bear

[Xinfu]

p.77 l
-like the love which mathematicians bear their symbols, or poets their phrases

Does it mean we could say

-Mathematicians bear their symbols love, and poets bear their phrases love.

?

If yes, what does my version or the original one mean?

[Rusty]

You can't rewrite the sentence as you did; 'love' cannot stand alone in each clause. And the rewritten version makes no sense.


In my opinion, the original version would make more immediate sense if it had the preposition 'with' prior to 'which' or the preposition 'for' prior to 'their', in both clauses.

Mathematicians love (have a strong affinity for) their (mathematical) symbols.
Poets love their (poetical) phrases.


... like the love with which mathematicians bear their symbols, or poets their phrases.

... like the love (which) mathematicians bear for their symbols, or poets for their phrases.

[Xinfu]

Excellent answer. Thank you.