Love That Doth Reign -translated by Henry Howard

Love that doth reign and live within my thought

And built his seat within my captive breast,

Clad in arms wherein with me he fought,

Oft in my face he doth his banner rest.

But she that taught me love and suffer pain,

My doubtful hope and eke my hot desire

With shamefaced look to shadow and refrain,

Her smiling grace converteth straight to ire.

And coward Love, then, to the heart apace

Taketh his flight, where he doth lurk and 'plain,

His purpose lost, and dare not show his face.

For my lord's guilt thus faultless bide I pain,

Yet from my lord shall not my foot remove,--

Sweet is the death that taketh end by love.