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This beauteous combat； wilful and unwilling； Show'd like two silver
doves that sit a…billing。
Once more the engine of her thoughts began： 'O fairest mover on this
mortal round；
Would thou wert as I am； and I a man； My heart all whole as thine；
thy heart my wound； For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee；
Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee。'
'Give me my hand；' saith he； 'why dost thou feel it？' 'Give me my
heart；' saith she； 'and thou shalt have it； O！ give it me； lest thy hard heart
do steel it； And being steel'd； soft sighs can never grave it：
Then love's deep groans I never shall regard； Because Adonis' heart
hath made mine hard。'
'For shame；' he cries； 'let go； and let me go； My day's delight is past；
my horse is gone；
And 'tis your fault I am bereft him so： I pray you hence； and leave me
here alone： For all my mind； my thought； my busy care； Is how to get my
palfrey from the mare。'
Thus she replies： 'Thy palfrey； as he should； Welcomes the warm
approach of sweet desire： Affection is a coal that must be cool'd； Else；
suffer'd； it will set the heart on fire：
The sea hath bounds； but deep desire hath none； Therefore no marvel
though thy horse be gone。
'How like a Jade he stood； tied to the tree； Servilely master'd with a
leathern rein！
But when he saw his love； his youth's fair fee； He held such petty
bondage in disdain； Throwing the base thong from his bending crest；
Enfranchising his mouth； his back； his breast。
'Who sees his true…love in her naked bed； Teaching the sheets a whiter
hue than white； But； when his glutton eye so full hath fed； His other agents
aim at like delight？
Who is so faint； that dare not bo so bold To touch the fire； the weather
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being cold？
'Let me excuse thy courser； gentle boy； And learn of him； I heartily
beseech thee；
To take advantage on presented joy Though I were dumb； yet his
proceedings teach thee。 O learn to love； the lesson is but plain； And once
made perfect； never lost again。
'I know not love；' quoth he； 'nor will not know it； Unless it be a boar；
and then I chase it； 'Tis much to borrow； and I will not owe it； My love to
love is love but to disgrace it；
For I have heard it is a life in death； That laughs and weeps； and all
but with a breath。
'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd？ Who plucks the bud
before one leaf put forth？
If springing things be any jot diminish'd； They wither in their prime；
prove nothing worth； The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young
Loseth his pride； and never waxeth strong。
'You hurt my hand with wringing Iet us part； And leave this idle theme；
this bootless chat： Remove your siege from my unyielding heart； To love's
alarms it will not ope the gate：
Dismiss your vows； your feigned tears； your flattery； For where a
heart is hard they make no battery。'
'What！ canst thou talk？' quoth she； 'hast thou a tongue？ O！ would thou
hadst not； or I had no hearing；
Thy mermaid's voice hath done me double wrong； I had my load
before； now press'd with bearing： Melodious discord； heavenly tune；
harsh…sounding； Ear's deep…sweet music； and heart's deep…sore wounding。
'Had I no eyes but ears； my ears would love
That inward beauty and invisible； Or were I deaf； thy outward parts
would move Each part in me that were but sensible：
Though neither eyes nor ears； to hear nor see； Yet should I be in love
by touching thee。
'Say； that the sense of feeling were bereft me； And that I could not see；
nor hear； nor touch；
And nothing but the very smell were left me； Yet would my love to
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thee be still as much； For from the stillitory of thy face excelling Comes
breath perfum'd that breedeth love by smelling。
'But O！ what banquet wert thou to the taste；
Being nurse and feeder of the other four； Would they not wish the
feast might ever last； And bid Suspicion double…lock the door； Lest
Jealousy； that sour unwelcome guest； Should； by his stealing in； disturb the
feast？'
Once more the ruby…colour'd portal open'd； Which to his speech did
honey passage yield；
Like a red morn； that ever yet betoken'd Wrack to the seaman；
tempest to the field； Sorrow to shepherds； woe unto the birds； Gusts and
foul flaws to herdmen and to herds。
This ill presage advisedly she marketh： Even as the wind is hush'd
before it raineth； Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh； Or as the
berry breaks before it staineth；
Or like the deadly bullet of a gun； His meaning struck her ere his
words begun。
And at his look she flatly falleth down For looks kill love； and love by
looks reviveth；
A smile recures the wounding of a frown； But blessed bankrupt； that
by love so thriveth！ The silly boy； believing she is dead Claps her pale
cheek； till clapping makes it red；
And all amaz'd brake off his late intent； For sharply he did think to
reprehend her； Which cunning love did wittily prevent： Fair fall the wit
that can so well defend her！
For on the grass she lies as she were slain Till his breath breatheth
life in her again。
He wrings her nose； he strikes her on the cheeks； He bends her fingers；
holds her pulses hard；
He chafes her lips； a thousand ways he seeks To mend the hurt that
his unkindness marr'd： He kisses her； and she； by her good will； Will never
rise； so he will kiss her still。
The night of sorrow now is turn'd to day： Her two blue windows
faintly she up…heaveth； Like the fair sun； when in his fresh array He cheers
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the morn； and all the world relieveth：
And as the bright sun glorifies the sky； So is her face illumin'd with
her eye；
Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix'd； As if from thence they
borrow'd all their shine。
Were never four such lamps together mix'd； Had not his clouded with
his brow's repine； But hers； which through the crystal tears gave light
Shone like the moon in water seen by night。
'O！ where am I？'