@3The False One@1 IN IMITATION OF THAT OF HORACE I BEHOLD, False Maid, yon horned light, Which in Heav'n's arched vault doth range, And view part of thyself in it; Yet she but once a month does change. II The raging sea, th' uncertain air, Or, what does yet more change admit, Of variation emblems are; When thou, and only thou art it. III Philosophers their pains may spare Perpetual motion where to find; If such a thing be anywhere, 'Tis Woman, in thy fickle mind. IV How oft, incentred in thine arms, Big with betraying sighs and tears, Hast thou secur'd me, by thy charms, From other lovers' natural fears. V Sighs, that improv'd the honest flame, Which made my faithful bosom pant; And tears so gentle, as might claim Belief, from hearts of adamant. VI These were the arts seduc'd my youth, A captive to thy wanton will: That with a falsehood, like to truth, In the same instant cure, and kill. VII Go tell the next you will betray, (I mean that Fool usurps my room) How for his sake I'm turn'd away; To the same fortune he must come. VIII When I, restored to that sense Thou hast distemper'd, sound and free, Shall, with a very just pretence, Despise, and laugh at him and thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON ANOTHER'S SORROW, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE HYMN TO ADVERSITY by THOMAS GRAY THE YANKEE PRIVATEER by ARTHUR HALE THE PRINCESS: SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON THE LOVER SHOWETH HOW HE IS FORSAKEN by THOMAS WYATT |