4. - I loved you first

"Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda."--Dante.

"Ogni altra cosa, ogni pensier va fore,

E sol ivi con voi rimansi amore."--Petrarca.

I loved you first: but afterwards your love

Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song

As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.

Which owes the other most? my love was long,

And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;

I loved and guessed at you, you construed me

And loved me for what might or might not be--

Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.

For verily love knows not "mine" or "thine;"

With separate "I" and "thou" free love has done,

For one is both and both are one in love:

Rich love knows nought of "thine that is not mine;"

Both have the strength and both the length thereof,

Both of us of the love which makes us one.