Ametas and Thestylis Making Hay-ropes

1
AMETAS
Think’st thou that this love can stand,
Whilst thou still dost say me nay?
Love unpaid does soon disband:
Love binds love as hay binds hay.

2
THESTYLIS
Think’st thou that this rope would twine
If we both should turn one way?
Where both parties so combine,
Neither love will twist nor hay.

3
AMETAS
Thus you vain excuses find,
Which yourselves and us delay:
And love ties a woman’s mind
Looser than with ropes of hay.

4
THESTYLIS
What you cannot constant hope
Must be taken as you may.

5
AMETAS
Then let’s both lay by our rope,
And go kiss within the hay.

Source: Complete Poems (1996)