The Gates of Time and Other Poems

by Frederick George Scott

 

THE TWO MISTRESSES

 
Ah, woe is me, my heart’s in sorry plight,
Enamoured equally of Wrong and Right;
        Right hath the sweeter grace,
        But Wrong the prettier face:
Ah, woe is me, my heart’s in sorry plight.
5

And Right is jealous that I let Wrong stay;
Yet Wrong seems sweeter when I turn away.
        Right sober is, like Truth,
        But Wrong is in her youth;
So Right is jealous that I let Wrong stay.
10

When I am happy, left alone with Right,
Then Wrong flits by and puts her out of sight;
        I follow and I fret,
        And once again forget
That I am happy, left alone with Right.
15

Ah, God! do Thou have pity on my heart!
A puppet blind am I, take Thou my part!
        Chasten my wandering love,
        Set it on things above:
Ah, God! do Thou take pity on my heart!
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