חינוך אנגלי

Matthew Prior 1664 - 1721
To a Lady: She Refusing to Continue a Dispute with Me, and Leaving Me in the Argument

1
Spare, gen'rous victor, spare the slave
Who did unequal war pursue
That more than triumph he might have
In being overcome by you

2
In the dispute whate'er I said
My heart was by my tongue belied
And in my looks you might have read
How much I argued on your side

3
You, far from danger as from fear
Might have sustained an open fight
For seldom your opinions err
Your eyes are always in the right

4
Why, fair one, would you not rely
On reason's force with beauty's joined
Could I their prevalence deny
I must at once be deaf and blind

5
Alas! not hoping to subdue
I only to the fight aspired
To keep the beauteous foe in view
Was all the glory I desired

6
But she, howe'er of vict'ry sure
Contemns the wreath too long delayed
And, armed with more immediate Pow'r
Calls cruel silence to her aid

7
Deeper to wound, she shuns the fight
She drops her arms, to gain the field
Secures her conquest by her flight
And triumphs, when she seems to yield

8
So when the Parthian turned his steed
And from the hostile camp withdrew
With cruel skill the backward reed
He sent; and as he fled, he slew