Classic Poem

(Double ballade sur le mesme propos)

Go, love as much as love you will,
And forth to feasts and banquets stray,
Yet at the end there comes the bill,
And broken heads at break of day.
For light loves make men beasts of prey,
They bent towards idols, Solomon,
From Samson took his eyes away.
Happy is he not so undone.

For this did Orpheus, who could thrill
With pipe and flute the mountains grey,
Come near to death where stands to kill
Four-headed Cerberus at bay;
Also Narcissus, fair as May,
Who in a deep, dark pool did drown
For love of light loves fair and gay.
Happy is he not so undone.

Sardana, praised in knighthood still,
Who conquered Crete, did yet betray
His manhood, nor disdained the frill
And skirt for this — or so they say.
King David, great in prophecy,
Forgot his God for sight of one
Who, washing, did her thigh display.
Happy is he not so undone.

And Amnon was a man until
Foul love cast him in disarray;
Feigning to eat of tarts, his skill
O'ercame his sister till she lay
Dishonoured, which was incest, aye,
Most foul. See Herod, who made John
Headless, beneath a dancer's sway.
Happy is he not so undone.

Next of myself — most bitter pill —
I, thrashed as washerwomen bray
Their clothes, in nature's deshabille
Stood nakedly — and wherefore, pray?
Ask Katherine of Vaucelles, malgre
Noe had most part of the fun.
Such wedding gloves no loves repay;
Happy is he not so undone.

But that young man impressible,
Turn him from those young maidens, nay,
Burn him upon the witches' hill,
He'd turn in burning to the fray.
They're sweet to him as civit — aye,
But trust them and your peace is gone;
Brunette or blonde one law obey.
Happy is he not so undone.