ONCE the life that ran in my veins was stronger; Now youth burns my blood with desire no longer; Soon my grizzled head must be disapproving Bondage of loving. Young, I served King Love, and my April squandered As his valiant trooper, and bore his standard, Which at Venus' shrine to her care I tender, Forced to surrender. Now no more shall words of delight the sheerest, "Sweet, my soul, thou life of my life, my dearest," Thrill me. They whose hearts have new blood to heat them, Hearing, repeat them. I will find, to kindle my life, new physic, Seeking Truth in Physic and Metaphysic, Paths of worlds and stars in their orbits learning, Going, returning. So, Farewell, my sonnets -- Farewell, sweet-singing Odes, Farewell the dance and the lyre's soft ringing, Long Farewell, O love -- thou must seek afar now, Losing Ronsard now. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WINDMILL by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES LIFE'S MIRROR by MARY AINGE DE VERE ON THE DEATH OF WALLER by APHRA BEHN SELF-CONGRATULATION by ANNE BRONTE CAELIA: SONNETS: 9 by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |