Classic Poem

I.

If I must die, for, or by thee,
To Love, or Rage, my Life resign;
No matter which way 'tis to be,
By your own Passion, or by mine:

II.

Since you cause me to die for Love,
Your fiercest Rage, can do no more;
Your Anger, my Relief wou'd prove,
Put me, by Death, out of your Pow'r;

III.

Out of your Pow'r, out of my Pain,
By your kind Hatred, shou'd I be,
Less by your Love, than your Disdain,
You wou'd obliging be to me;

IV.

When Criminals are doom'd to die,
Dispatch from Pain, they undergo,
Is Mercy sure, not Cruelty,
When Pain, our end of Pain wou'd grow;

V.

In Executions, all Delays
Turn the worst sort of Cruelty;
That Rage, the Part of Mercy plays,
Which ends our Pain, most suddenly:

VI.

In Love, make me more Passionate,
Or more, or less so, with me be;
If me you more, wou'd Love, or Hate,
I were more Happy, you more Free;

VII.

If me then, more you will not Love,
Hate me, till Loving I give o'er;
Since Love in vain, more Pain wou'd prove,
Be kind, make me Love thee no more;

VIII.

Be more Unkind, more Kind to be,
For Love's sake, give me more Disdain;
Since you'll give no more Joy to me,
Put me, with more Grief, out of Pain.