A Farewell to False Love poem by Sir Walter Raleigh

A Farewell to False LoveFarewell 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.

Sith* then thy trains my younger years betrayed, [since]

And for my faith ingratitude I find;

And sith repentance hath my wrongs bewrayed*, [revealed]

Whose course was ever contrary to kind*: [nature]

False love, desire, and beauty frail, adieu.

Dead is the root whence all these fancies grew.

Sir Walter Raleigh