University of Virginia Library

38

[Sitting alone, Love bids me goe and write]

Sitting alone, Love bids me goe and write;
Reason plucks back, commanding me to stay,
Boasting, that she doth still direct the way,
Or else Love were unable to indite:
Love growing angry, vexed at the Spleene,
And scorning Reason's maymed Argument,
Straight taxeth Reason, wanting to invent,
Where she with Love conversing hath not beene;
Reason reproched with this coy Disdaine,
Despiteth Love, and laugheth at her Folly;
And Love contemning Reasons reason wholly,
Thought it in weight too light by many a Graine:
Reason put back, doth out of sight remove,
And Love alone picks reason out of love.