A Farewell to False Love

7A poisoned serpent covered all with flowers,

8Mother of sighs, and murderer of repose,

9A sea of sorrows whence are drawn such showers

10As moisture lend to every grief that grows;

11A school of guile, a net of deep deceit,

12A gilded hook that holds a poisoned bait.

13A fortress foiled, which reason did defend,

14A siren song, a fever of the mind,

15A maze wherein affection finds no end,

16A raging cloud that runs before the wind,

17A substance like the shadow of the sun,

18A goal of grief for which the wisest run.

19A quenchless fire, a nurse of trembling fear,

20A path that leads to peril and mishap,

21A true retreat of sorrow and despair,

22An idle boy that sleeps in pleasure's lap,

23A deep mistrust of that which certain seems,

24A hope of that which reason doubtful deems.

25Sith then thy trains my younger years betrayed,

26And for my faith ingratitude I find;

27And sith repentance hath my wrongs bewrayed,

28Whose course was ever contrary to kind:

29False love, desire, and beauty frail, adieu.

30Dead is the root whence all these fancies grew.