Poem LVI - Lesbia Harford

[highlyeccentric]

And is love very strong where honour rules?
Would the world ever speak of Lancelot's love
Or Tristan's love had they put honour first?
What would you think if Guinevere had knelt
And begged for kisses and had begged in vain?
Should she be constant had she been refused
Or would she laugh and turn to love elsewhere?
For Joseph is a hero nowadays
And young Paolo, of the Italian blood
Rather too rash and uncontrollable.
Lovers who are not free should sigh and part
Lovers, you call them, and not free to love!
They may be wives or husbands, business men,
Saints even: they're not lovers. After all,
I'd rather be a lover than a saint.