No Lover saith, I love, nor any other Can judge a perfect Lover; Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree That any loves but hee: I cannot say I lov'd, for who can say 5 Hee was kill'd yesterday? Love with excesse of heat, more yong then old, Death kills with too much cold; Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die, Hee that saith twice, doth lye: 10 For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while, It doth the sense beguile. Such life is like the light which bideth yet When the lights life is set, Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter 15 Leaves behinde, two houres after. Once I lov'd and dy'd; and am now become Mine Epitaph and Tombe. Here dead men speake their last, and so do I; Love-slaine, loe, here I lye. 20 [The Paradox. _1635-69_: _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_ _TCC_, _TCD_] [3 can, nor will agree _A18_, _H40_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_: can or will agree, _1633-69_] [6 yesterday?] yesterday. _1633-39_] [14 lights life _H40_, _L74_, _RP31_, _S:_ lifes light _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_] [15 which _Ed:_ which, _1633-69_] [17 lov'd _A18_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC:_ love _1633-69_ dy'd] dyed _1633-69_] [20 lye. _H40_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96:_ dye. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_] _Farewell to Love._ Whilst yet to prove, I thought there was some Deitie in love So did I reverence, and gave Worship; as Atheists at their dying houre Call, what they cannot name, an unknowne power, 5 As ignorantly did I 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. 10 But, from late faire His hignesse sitting in a golden Chaire, Is not lesse cared for after three dayes By children, then the thing which lovers so Blindly admire, and with such worship wooe; 15 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. 20 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) 25 This, as shee would man should despise The sport; Because that other curse of being short, And onely for a minute made to be, (Eagers desire) to raise posterity. 30