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Love worketh aye in earnest wise,

Though found in many a differing guise.

If love run strong betwixt the two,

Each hath his part in turn to do,

For this one suffereth that one’s pain,

And that one’s joy is this one’s gain.

By friendship’s law, great Tully saith,

That when two men repose full faith

In one another, and request

Is made betwixt them, ’tis a test

Of mutual love; and asking made

With right and reason, to evade

Fulfilment were a thing unjust,

Save in two cases, which men must

Keep aye in mind. The first is this:

If it attaint man’s life, ywis,

Refuse to have concern therein;

Or secondly, if one would pin

Disgrace on some well-honoured name,

Scorn thou to aid an act of shame

And baseness. In each case, I trow,

Stern duty cries: Thou shalt not bow

Thy will to his, whose heart perverse

Injustice ’gainst his foe doth nurse.

Such love it is that thou shouldst give

Thine heart to, if thou fain wouldst live

In honour, but flee thou that blind,

False love that but obscures thy mind;

The one is virtue’s very breath,

The other draws men on to death.

Another Love will I describe,

An adverse love, whereat may gibe