Classic Poem

AS WEET CONTENTION BETWEEN L OVE, HIS Mistress AND B EAUTY

L OVE and my Mistress were at strife
Who had the greatest power on me;
Betwixt them both, oh, what a life!
Nay, what a death is this to be!

She said, she did it with her eye;
He said, he did it with his dart;
Betwixt them both (Asilly wretch!)
'Tis I that have the wounded heart

She said, she only spake the word
That did enchant my peering sense;
He said, he only gave the sound
That enter'd heart without defence

*****

She said, her Beauty was the mark
That did amaze the highest mind;
He said, he only made the mist
Whereby the senses grew so blind

She said, that, only for her sake,
The best would venture life and limb:
He said, she was too much deceiv'd;
They honour'd her because of him.

Long while, alas, she would not yield
But it was she that rul'd the roast;
Until, by proof, she did confess,
If he were gone her joy was lost.

And then she cried, " Oh, dainty Love,
" I now do find it is for thee
That I am lov'd and honour'd both,
" And thou hast power to conquer me!

But, when I heard her yield to Love,
Oh! how my heart did leap for joy
That now I had some little hope
To have an end of mine annoy!

For though that Fancy Beauty found
A power all too pitiless,
Yet Love would never haue the heart
To leave his servant comfortless.

But as too soon before the field
The trumpets sound the overthrow
So all too soon I joy'd too much
For I awak'd and nothing so.