Poems with rhymes of contend

Of wit or arms, while both contend
To win her grace whom all commend.

Else in a giant's grasp until the end
A hopeless wrestler shall thy soul contend.

35 Or is 't intestine Wars that thus offend?
36 Do Maud and Stephen for the Crown contend?

Oh! thou, from gods that didst descend,
With a poor virgin to contend,

Where Virtue and Wit with such Qualities blend,
What Mortal, what Goddess, would dare to contend?

These ancient Ghosts contend,
And my soul is a battle-field
Of passions that pierce and rend.

Wonders that they of all men should pretend
To birth and blood, and for a name contend.

My soul like sackcloth did her body rend,
And thus with Heaven contend:-

But on this day with whom shall he contend?
A maid stood by him like Diana clad
When in the woods she lists her bow to bend,

So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

Let hand with hand and brain with brain contend,
And each one labour to some selfish end.

But what says our attorney? He, our friend,
Tells us 'tis just and manly to contend.

Or whether, as the learn'd contend,
You from the neighbouring Gaul descend;

The air though roaring cannons rend
While warriors with fierce rage contend,

Of Lombards, French, and Germans, without end;
Who, every one, in presence of his lord,
To rank among the valiantest contend,

Brother and brother, friend and friend,
Family and family,
City and city may contend,

Nor with Is nor Is Not let thy mind contend
Rest assured all perfection of mortal birth
In the great Is Not at the last shall end.

In mental combat but a single end
Inspires the formidable to contend.

Must here give place and bend,
Yea, though his bones were bars of brass,
'Tis vain here to contend.

Nor joys bestow, nor comforts lend,
As when I lived so blest, so well,
And dreamt not I must soon contend