Love

A Song between Taurisius and Diana, answering verse for verse

by Bartholomew Yong fl. 1598

From England's Helicon (1600), ed. A. H. Bullen (1887)

Love

Taurisius. The cause why that thou dost deny
To look on me, sweet foe, impart?
Diana. Because that doth not please the eye
Which doth offend and grieve the heart.
Taurisius. What woman is, or ever was.

That when she looketh, could be moved?
Diana. She that resolves her life to pass.
Neither to love nor to be loved.
Taurisius. There is no heart so fierce and hard.
That can so much torment a soul.
Diana. Nor shepherd of so small regard.

That reason will so much control.
Taurisius. How falls it out love doth not kill
Thy cruelty with some remorse?
Diana. Because that love is but a will,
And free-will doth admit no force.
Taurisius. Behold, what reason now thou hast
To remedy my loving smart!
Diana. The very same binds me as fast,
To keep such danger from my heart.
Taurisius. Why dost thou thus torment my mind.

And to what end thy beauty keep?
Diana. Because thou call'st me still unkind.
And pitiless when thou dost weep.
Taurisius. Is it because thy cruelty
In killing me doth never end?
Diana, Nay, for because I mean thereby,
My heart from sorrow to defend.
Taurisius. Be bold; so foul I am no way
As thou dost think, fair shepherdess.
Diana, With this content thee, that I say
That I believe the same no less.
Taurisius. What, after giving me such store
Of passions, dost thou mock me too?
Diana. If answers thou wilt any more.
Go seek them without more ado.

✦ ✦ ✦

Signed "Bar. Yong" in England's Helicon.

MLA

Yong, Bartholomew. “A Song between Taurisius and Diana, answering verse for verse.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/yong_b/13/.

Chicago

Yong, Bartholomew. “A Song between Taurisius and Diana, answering verse for verse.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/yong_b/13/.

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