LOVE ARMED

by: Aphra Behn

      OVE in fantastic triumph sat,
      Whilst bleeding hearts around him flowed,
      For whom fresh pains he did create,
      And strange tyrannic power he showed,
      From thy bright eyes he took his fire,
      Which round about, in sport he hurled;
      But 'twas from mine, he took desire,
      Enough to undo the amorous world.
       
      From me he took his sighs and tears,
      From thee his pride and cruelty;
      From me his languishments and fears,
      And every killing dart from thee;
      Thus thou and I, the god have armed,
      And set him up a deity;
      But my poor heart alone is harmed,
      Whilst thine the victor is, and free.

'Love Armed' first appeared as 'Love in fantastic triumph sat' in Abdelazer (1677). It was reprinted in Poems on Several Occasions in 1684; the 1684 version is printed here.

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  • Aphra Behn - A biography of the British poet and dramatist.
  • Aphra Behn - A biography of the British dramatist and spy for England, code-named "Astrea" or Agent 160.
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