Farewell, false love, the oracle of lies, <br />A mortal foe and enemy to rest, <br />An envious boy, from whom all cares arise, <br />A bastard vile, a beast with rage possessed, <br />A way of error, a temple full of treason, <br />In all effects contrary unto reason. <br /> <br />A poisoned serpent covered all with flowers, <br />Mother of sighs, and murderer of repose, <br />A sea of sorrows whence are drawn such showers <br />As moisture lend to every grief that grows; <br />A school of guile, a net of deep deceit, <br />A gilded hook that holds a poisoned bait. <br /> <br />A fortress foiled, which reason did defend, <br />A siren song, a fever of the mind, <br />A maze wherein affection finds no end, <br />A raging cloud that runs before the wind, <br />A substance like the shadow of the sun, <br />A goal of grief for which the wisest run. <br /> <br />A quenchless fire, a nurse of trembling fear, <br />A path that leads to peril and mishap, <br />A true retreat of sorrow and despair, <br />An idle boy that sleeps in pleasure's lap, <br />A deep mistrust of that which certain seems, <br />A hope of that which reason doubtful deems. <br /> <br />Sith then thy trains my younger years betrayed, <br />And for my faith ingratitude I find; <br />And sith repentance hath my wrongs bewrayed, <br />Whose course was ever contrary to kind: <br />False love, desire, and beauty frail, adieu. <br />Dead is the root whence all these fancies grew.<br /><br />Sir Walter Raleigh<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-farewell-to-false-love/
