dots-menu
×

Home  »  A Book of Women’s Verse  »  Song: “Love in fantastic triumph sat”

J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921.

By Aphra Behn (1640–1689)

Song: “Love in fantastic triumph sat”

LOVE in fantastic triumph sat

Whilst bleeding hearts around him flow’d,

For whom fresh paines he did create,

And strange tyrannic power he show’d;

From thy bright eyes he took his fire,

Which round about in sport he hurl’d;

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 arm’d,

And set him up a deity;

But my poor heart alone is harm’d,

Whilst thine the victor is, and free.