William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

The Passionate Pilgrim, II.

“Two loves I have of comfort and despair”


TWO loves I have of comfort and despair,  
Which like two spirits do suggest me still;  
My better angel is a man, right fair,  
My worser spirit a woman, colour’d ill.  
To win me soon to hell, my female evil    5
Tempteth my better angel from my side,  
And would corrupt a saint to be a devil,  
Wooing his purity with her fair pride:  
And whether that my angel be turn’d fiend  
Suspect I may, yet not directly tell;   10
For being both to me, both to each friend,  
I guess one angel in another’s hell.  
  The truth I shall not know, but live in doubt,  
  Till my bad angel fire my good one out.