Facetiae : Musarum deliciae, or, The Muses recreation, conteining ...

Fancies and Fantasticks. 309A Question.Between two Suiters sat a Lady faire,Upon her head a Garland she did wear ;And of the enamoured two, the first alone,A Garland wore like hers, the second none ;From her own head she took the wreath she wore,And on him plac'd it that had none before.And then mark this, their brows were both aboutBeset with Garlands, and she sate without :Beholding now these Rivals on each sideOf her thus plac'd, and deck'd with equall pride:She from the first mans head the wreath he hadTook off, and therewith her own brow she clad.And then (not this) she and the second wereWith Garlands deck'd ;and the first man sate bare.Now which did she love best ?of him to whomShe gave the wreath ? or him she took it from ?The Answtr.In my conceit, she would him soonest have,From whom she took, not him to whom she gave.For to bestow, many respects may move ;But to receive, none can perswade but love.She grac'd him much on whom the wreath she plac'd ;But him whose wreath she wore, she much more grac'd,For where she gives, she there a servant makes,But makes her self a servant where she takes.Then where she takes, she honours most : and whereShe doth most honour, she most love doth bear.