Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GROATSWORTH OF WIT: LAMILIA'S SONG by ROBERT GREENE

First Line: FIE, FIE ON BLIND FANCY!
Last Line: TO COUNT LOVE A TOY.
Subject(s): IMAGINATION; LOVE; YOUTH; FANCY;
FIE, fie on blind fancy!
It hinders youth's joy:
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count Love a toy.
When Love learn'd first the A B C of delight,
And knew no figures nor conceited phrase,
He simply gave to due desert her right,
He led not lovers in dark winding ways;
He plainly will'd to love, or flatly answer'd no:
But now who lists to prove, shall find it nothing so.
Fie, fie, then, on fancy!
It hinders youth's joy:
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count love a toy.
For since he learn'd to use the poet's pen,
He learn'd likewise with smoothing words to feign,
Witching chaste ears with trothless tongues of men,
And wrongèd faith with falsehood and disdain.
He gives a promise now, anon he sweareth no:
Who listeth for to prove, shall find his changing so.
Fie, fie, then, on fancy!
It hinders youth's joy:
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count Love a toy.



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