Love
The Ways of Love
Translated by Curtis Hidden Page (1903) · From Songs and Sonnets of Pierre de Ronsard (1903)
Love's infidel,
Whom I adore,
You know too well
That I love you more
By a hundred score
Than mine eyes or heart!
So you'd die before
You'd be called "sweet-heart!"
But if I could seem
To set no store
By your esteem,
Then you'd love me more
By a hundred score
Than your eyes or heart,
And almost implore
To be called "sweet-heart!"
"'Tis the way of love
That who loves the best
The least can he move
His Lady's breast." . . .
Ah, would I could test
The proverb's truth
And hate — in jest —
Till you loved in sooth!
Cite this poem
MLA
Ronsard, Pierre de. “The Ways of Love.” Translated by Curtis Hidden Page. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ronsard/14/.
Chicago
Ronsard, Pierre de. “The Ways of Love.” Translated by Curtis Hidden Page. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ronsard/14/.
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