Love and Death once ceased their strife br At the Tavern of Man's Life. br Called for wine, and threw -- alas! -- br Each his quiver on the grass. br When the bout was o'er they found br Mingled arrows strewed the ground. br Hastily they gathered then br Each the loves and lives of men. br Ah, the fateful dawn deceived! br Mingled arrows each one sheaved; br Death's dread armoury was stored br With the shafts he most abhorred; br Love's light quiver groaned beneath br Venom-headed darts of Death. br br Thus it was they wrought our woe br At the Tavern long ago.