The Works of Sir John Suckling in prose and verse/Love, Reason, Hate, did once bespeak

by John Suckling

1

Love, Reason, Hate, did once bespeak

Three mates to play at barley-break:
Love, Folly took; and Reason, Fancy;
And Hate consorts with Pride; so dance they:
Love coupled last, and so it fell,5
That Love and Folly were in hell.

2

They break, and Love would Reason meet;

But Hate was nimbler on her feet:
Fancy looks for Pride, and thither
Hies, and they two hug together:10
Yet this new coupling still doth tell
That Love and Folly were in hell.

3

The rest do break again, and Pride

Hath now got Reason on her side:
Hate and Fancy meet, and stand15
Untoucht by Love in Folly's hand:
Folly was dull, but Love ran well;
So Love and Folly were in hell.