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Songs and Sonnets
Farewell to Love

by John Donne

Whilst yet to prove, 
I thought there was some Deitie in love 
So did ! reverence, and gave 
Worship; as Atheists at their dying houre 
Call, what they cannot name, an unknowne power, 
As ignorantly did ! crave: 
Thus when 
Things not yet knowne are coveted by men, 
Our desires give them fashion, and so 
As they waxe lesser, fall, as they sise, grow. 
But, from late faire 
His highnesse sitting in a golden Chaire, 
Is not lesse cared for after three dayes 
By children, than the thing which lovers so 
Blindly admire, and with such worship wooe; 
Being had, enjoying it decayes: 
And thence, 
What before pleas'd them all, takes but one sense, 
And that so lamely, as it leaves behinde 
A kinde of sorrowing dulnesse to the minde. 
Ah cannot wee, 
As well as Cocks and Lyons jocund be, 
After such pleasures? Unlesse wise 
Nature decreed (since each such Act, they say, 
Diminisheth the length of life a day) 
This, as shee would man should despise 
The sport, 
Because that other curse of being short, 
And onely for a minute made to be 
Eager desire, to raise posterity. 
Since so, my minde 
Shall not desire what no man else can finde, 
I'll no more dote and runne 
To pursue things which had indammag'd me. 
And when ! come where moving beauties be, 
As men doe when the summers Sunne 
Growes great, 
Though I admire their greamesse, shun their heat; 
Each place can afford shadowes. If all faile, 
'Tis but applying worme-seed to the Taile. 
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