Classic Poem

I.

If shedding neither Tears, or Blood,
Can on her Hard-Heart, e'er prevail,
Thy shedding Ink will do no good,
In Love, thy Reason thee will fail;
Since Nonsense is the Proof of Love,
Reason in Love, wou'd Folly prove;

II.

Against you, were your Sense, or Wit,
In Love intended, for your Aid;
Since Reason ne'er rul'd Woman yet,
Your Sense will her, from Love dissuade;
Thy Reason will, her Reason be,
For yielding not, to that, or thee;

III.

Since she, her Lover wou'd controul,
She wisely shuns the Man of Wit;
To be still Mistress of the Fool,
To be his Wife, she does submit;
Who, but i'th' Act of Love, does claim,
To be Superiour, to his Dame;

IV.

To tickle her then, as you shou'd,
But with a Feather, never think;
To cure Love's Tetter, little good
Is there sure, to be done with Ink;
By Wine then, not with Ink essay,
Love's Itch to cure, or drive away;

V.

But cease, by Wit, or Poetry,
Truth of thy Passion, to disprove,
Thy Wit must give thy Love the Lie,
Since Nonsense is the Proof of Love;
Thy True Sense, thy True Love denies,
None can, at once Love, and be Wise.