Classic Poem

I.

As Love sat idling beneath a tree,
A Knight rode by on his charger free,
Stalwart and fair and tall was he,
With his plume and his mantle, a sight to see!
And proud of his scars, right loftily,
He cried, Young boy will you go with me?
But Love he pouted and shook his head,
And along fared the Warrior, ill-bested:
Love is not won by chivalry.

II.

Then came a Minstrel bright of blee,
Blue were his eyes as the heavens be,
And sweet as a song-bird's throat sung he,
Of smiles and tears and ladie's ee,
Soft love and glorious chivalry,
Then cried, Sweet boy will you go with me?
Love wept and smiled, but shook his head,
And along fared the Minstrel ill-bested:
Love is not won by minstrelsy.

III.

Then came a Bookman, wise as three,
Darker a scholar you shall not see
In Jewrie, Rome, or Araby.
But list fair dames what I rede to ye,
In love's sweet lere untaught was he,
For when he cried, Come, love, with me,
Tired of the parle he was nodding his head,
And along fared the Scholar ill-bested:
Love is not won by pedantry.

IV.

Then came a Courtier wearing the key
Of council and chambers high privity;
He could dispute yet seem to agree,
And soft as dew was his flatterie.
And with honied voice and low congee,
Fair youth, he said, will you honor me?
In courteous wise Love shook his head,
And along fared the Courtier ill-bested:
Love is not won by courtesy.

V.

Then came a Miser blinking his ee,
To view the bright boy beneath the tree;
His purse, which hung to his cringing knee,
The ransom held of a king's countree;
And a handful of jewels and gold showed he,
And cried, Sweet child, will you go with me?
Then loud laughed Love as he shook his head,
And along fared the Monger ill-bested:
Love is not won by merchandry.

VI.

O then to young Love beneath the tree,
Came one as young and as fair as he,
And as like to him as like can be,
And clapping his little wings for glee,
With nods and smiles and kisses free,
He whispered, Come, O come with me:
Love pouted and flouted and shook his head,
But along with that winsome youth he sped,
And love wins love, loud shouted he!