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Sir Walter Raleigh
Farewell, False Love
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- Farwell, 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 murderer of repose,
- A sea of sorrows whence are drawn such showers
- As moisture lend 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 mistrust of that which certain seems,
- A hope of that which reason doubtful deems.
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- 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.
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