The Works of Sir John Suckling in prose and verse/Farewell to Love

by John Suckling

FAREWELL TO LOVE

1

Well, shadow'd landskip, fare ye well:

How I have lov'd you none can tell,
At least, so well
As he that now hates more
Than e'er he lov'd before.5

2

But, my dear nothings, take your leave:

No longer must you me deceive,
Since I perceive
All the deceit, and know
Whence the mistake did grow.10

3

As he, whose quicker eye doth trace

A false star shot to a mark'd place,
Does run apace,
And, thinking it to catch,
A jelly up does snatch:15

4

So our dull souls, tasting delight

Far off, by sense and appetite,
Think that is right
And real good; when yet
'Tis but the counterfeit.20

5

O, how I glory now, that I

Have made this new discovery!
Each wanton eye
Inflam'd before: no more
Will I increase that score.25

6

If I gaze now, 'tis but to see

What manner of death's-head 'twill be.
When it is free
From that fresh upper skin,
The gazer's joy and sin.30

7

The gum and glist'ning, which, with art

And studi'd method in each part,
Hangs down the hair, 't
Looks (just) as if that day
Snails there had crawl'd the hay.35

8

The locks, that curl'd o'er each ear be,

Hang like two master-worms to me,
That (as we see)
Have tasted to the rest
Two holes, where they like 't best.40

9

A quick corse, methinks, I spy

In ev'ry woman; and mine eye,
At passing by,
Checks, and is troubled, just
As if it rose from dust.45

10

They mortify, not heighten me;

These of my sins the glasses be:
And here I see
How I have loved before.
And so I love no more.50

Finis