Monna Innominata [I loved you first]

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 contrued 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.