Farewell, false love, the oracle of lies, A mortal foe and enemy to rest; An envious boy, from whom all cares arise, A bastard vile, a beast with rage possessed; A way of error, a temple full of treason, In all effects contrary unto reason. A poisoned serpent covered all with flowers, Mother of sighs and murtherer of repose, A sea of sorrows from whence are drawn such showers As moisture lends to every grief that grows; A school of guile, a net of deep deceit, A gilded hook that holds a poisoned bait. A fortress foiled which reason did defend, A siren song, a fever of the mind, A maze wherein affection finds no end, A raging cloud that runs before the wind, A substance like the shadow of the sun, A goal of grief for which the wisest run. A quenchless fire, a nurse of trembling fear, A path that leads to peril and mishap; A true retreat of sorrow and despair, An idle boy that sleeps in pleasure's lap, A deep distrust of that which certain seems, A hope of that which reason doubtful deems. Sith then thy trains my younger years betrayed, And for my faith ingratitude I find, And sith repentance hath my wrongs bewrayed Whose course was ever contrary to kind -- False love, desire, and beauty frail, adieu! Dead is the root whence all these fancies grew. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VOLPONE: TO CELIA by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS RECOLLECTIONS OF LOVE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE ITALY SWEET TOO! by JOHN KEATS YOUR LAD, AND MY LAD by RANDALL PARRISH VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1877 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI SPRING [IN WAR-TIME] by HENRY TIMROD THE EUMENIDES: THE FURIES' PRAYER by AESCHYLUS |