Delia 6: Fair is my love, and cruel as she's fair

Fair is my love, and cruel as she's fair:

Her brow shades frowns although her eyes are sunny,

Her smiles are lightning though her pride despair,

And her disdains are gall, her favours honey;

A modest maid, deck'd with a blush of honour,

Whose feet do tread green paths of youth and love,

The wonder of all eyes that look upon her:

Sacred on earth, design'd a saint above.

Chastity and beauty, which were deadly foes,

Live reconciled friends within her brow;

And had she pity to conjoin with those,

Then who had heard the plaints I utter now?

For had she not been fair and thus unkind,

My muse had slept, and none had known my mind.