The Passionate Pilgrim «

II.

Two loves I have, of comfort and despair,

That 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

Tempteth my better angel from my side,

And would corrupt my 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:

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.

William Shakespeare