XV

By no means! This were easy (men tell me) to say--
"Give her all, throw your chance up, fall back on her heart!"
(Say my friends) "she must change! after night follows day--"
No such fool! I am safe set in hell, for my part--
So let heaven do the worst now he may!


XVI

What they bid me? Well, this, nothing more--"Tell her this--
'You are mine, I yours, though the whole world fail--
Though things are not, I know there is one thing which is--
Though the oars break, there's hope for us yet--hoist the sail!
Oh, your heart! what's the heart? but your kiss!'


XVII

"Then she breaks, she drops down, she lies flat at your feet--
Take her then!" Well, I knew it--what fools are men!
Take the bee by her horns, will your honey prove sweet?
Sweet is grass--will you pasture your cows in a fen?
Oh, if contraries could but once meet!


XVIII