Classic Poem

UPON HER ACKNOWLEDGING HIS DESERT, YET REJECTING HIS
AFFECTION .

If love conjoined with worth and great desart,
Merit like love in every noble mind,
Why then do I you still so cruel find,
To whom you do such praise of worth impart?
And if, my dear, you speak not from your heart,
Two heinous wrongs you do together bind,
To seek with glozing words mine eyes to blind,
And yet with hateful deeds my love to thwart.
To want what one deserves, engrieves his pain,
Because it takes away all self-accusing;
And under kindest words to mask disdain,
Is to a vexed soul too much abusing.
Then if't be false, such glozing words refrain;
If true, oh! then let worth his due obtain.

HER ANSWER IN THE SAME RHYMES .

If your fond love want worth and great desart,
Then blame yourself that you me cruel find:
If worth alone move every noble mind,
Why to no worth should I my love impart?
And if the less to grieve your wounded heart,
I seek your dazzled eyes with words to blind,
To just disfavour I great favour bind,
With deeds and not with words your love to thwart.
The freeing of your mind from self accusing,
By granting your deserts should ease your pain;
And since love is your fault, 'twere some abusing,
With bitter words t' envenom just disdain.
Then if 't be true, all glozing I refrain;
If false, why should no worth worth's due obtain?