Classic Poem

Thus Reason preached, but Love set all at naught;
For though I heard the sermon word for word
I took no stock in it, so drawn was I
To Love, who still my every thought pursued
Like hunter, following me everywhere,
And ever kept my heart beneath his wing.
When he spied me thus sitting, as in church,
Out at one ear he shoveled from my head
Whate'er in at the other Reason pitched;
So she not only vainly spent her pains
But even angered me, till I replied:
" Madam, you would betray me; should I scorn
All folk because the God of Love now frowns?
Shall I no more experience true love,
But live in hate? Truly, so help me God,
Then were I mortal sinner worse than thief!
Make no mistake! By one means must I win:
Either I'll love or hate. Perchance at last
I'll buy the hate more dear, though love be worth
No penny of my cash. 'Tis good advice
You give me now — that I should Love renounce.
He were a fool who'd disbelieve in you.
But you've recalled another kind of love,
Less known, perhaps, but sometimes entertained,
Which I've not heard you blame. If you'll define
This love to me, consider me a fool
If I pay ill attention to your words.
I'd learn, if I am able, at the least
The various kinds of loving, if you please. "
" Certainly you would be but a fool,
Fair friend, if you cared not a straw for one
Who preaches to you for your good I'm glad
To answer your request with all my skill,
Though I am doubtful if 'twill profit you.
" Many and various are the kinds of love
Besides the one which has upset your sense.
You came to know that love in evil hour;
Please God you soon may drive it from your heart!
One kind of love is friendship, that unites
Two hearts so close in mutual accord
That no discord can interrupt their love,
Which seems like the benevolence of God.
'Twixt such friends there should be community,
In loving charity, of all their goods,
That no exception they may think to make.
Neither should hesitate in other's aid,
But be alike firm, loyal, ready, wise;
For wit is worthless without loyalty.
Whatever either one may dare to think
He should, as with himself, with his friend share
Securely, without fear to be betrayed.
Such custom should those have who'd be true friends.
No man can truly amiable be
Unless he is, in spite of Fortune, firm
And stable, that his friend, who's set his heart
On him, may find him e'er the same, in wealth
Or poverty. And if he see his friend
Decline in riches, he should never wait
Until he's asked to give his aid; for help
That must be begged for is too dearly bought
By one who's worthy of the name of friend.
" Great shame it were for worthy man to beg;
And long he thinks and fears, is ill at ease,
Ere he will ask, ashamed to say his say,
Dreading refusal. But if he has found
A friend whose love he has already proved
A certainty, he'll tell both cares and joys
To such a one, whatever case arise,
And feel no shame. Why should he hesitate
With such a friend as I've described to you?
No third will learn the secret that he tells
No reprimand he fears. To hold his tongue
The wise man better knows than do the fools
Who never silence keep. A friend will do
Whate'er he can to ease his friend's distress;
More readily he gives than that one takes.
Or, if one cannot grant his friend's request,
One feels more grief than he, and so one knows
The mastery of love. One bears his share
Of his friend's dolor, and one comforts him,
If each has equal share in other's love,
Well as one can; as one would share his joy.
" In one of his discourses Tully says
That by the law of friendship one should grant
The honorable request of any friend,
Expecting him to do the same if asked
For anything that's reasonable and right.
There are but two exceptions to this rule:
No one should give his aid to take a life
Or bring disgrace upon an honored name.
In these two cases should a friend refrain,
But not refuse whatever else love ask.
Such love is not opposed to Reason's rule;
And 'tis my will you follow such a love,
Eschewing other kinds. All virtue this
Supports, but other love leads men to death.
" Another, adverse, love will I describe,
As worthy to be blamed as this one praised;
It is feigned love in hearts that are diseased
With malady of direful covetousness.
So easily unbalanced is this love
That soon as it sees hope of profit lost
It fails and is extinguished, for true heart
Must love folk for themselves or not at all,
Rather than feign or flatter for reward.
Fortune-following love eclipses soon
As does the moon that falls into the shade
Of mother earth, which shadows and obscures,
Obstructing all the glory of the sun,
But, when the shadow passes, reassumes
Its former brightness from the solar rays.
So is vile love: first bright and then obscure.
As soon as Poverty's dark, hideous robe
Prevents the sight of Riches' golden glow,
Such love finds it convenient to depart,
But reillumines when wealth comes again.
It grows when riches grow, fails when they fail.
" Such love alone do wealthy people gain,
Especially the avaricious ones
Who will not wash their hearts clean of the filth
And sin of greedy, burning covetousness.
No cuckold crowned with horns like tufted stag
Is half so silly as a rich old man
Who thinks that he is loved but for himself.
He who has ne'er another truly loved
Proclaims himself a fool if he suppose
That he's adored. He is more simple far
Than a fair-antlered deer. He who desires
True friends must friendly show himself.
One proves his love not when he clutches fast
His riches though he see his friends in need
And plans to keep his wealth till he depart
And hateful death fetter his mouth for good.
Rather he'd see himself torn limb from limb
Than share his wealth and see it melt away;
And so he cannot love, for in what heart
That lacks real pity can a friendship reign?
When man acts thus, one knows what is his state:
Blameworthy is the one who loves not, nor is loved. "