Classic Poem

I.

Why Phillis! shou'd you Rudeness call
My throwing you, so gently down?
Had I not given Thee the Fall,
Thou Reason hadst, to call me Clown;
Since though I fell on top of Thee,
My Fall, not thine, it term'd shou'd be.

II.

For had I not, then thrown Thee down,
I had not worsted been, by Thee;
Though I fell uppermost, thou't own,
Thou much the better hadst of me;
Thy Fall, but my Dishonour was,
By which, I for the Weaker pass.

III.

Then, by the Fall, I gave to Thee,
'Tis I, not Thou, hast Credit lost,
Who, (though I threw Thee,) worsted me,
Nay, tho' that I was uppermost;
So fear not then, I'll brag, or tell,
Who first, (though I first threw Thee,) fell.

IV.

Then, why shou'dst Thou blush, cry out, frown?
Since, though I Thee first overcame,
I weakest prov'd, who threw Thee down,
Thy Fall so, was, but more my Shame;
If ought has by us, been ill done,
You fell too late, I rise too soon.

V.

So say not, I dishonour'd Thee,
Who by Thee, was sham'd, worsted more,
Since you, in Wrestling worsted me,
And left me, to worst You, no Pow'r;
So that, your Fall was but my Foil,
Who lost my Labour, Breath, and Oil.