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. 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. 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: 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. Oh, how I glory now, that I Have made this new discovery! Each wanton eye Inflam'd before: no more Will I increase that score. 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. 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. 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. 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. They mortify, not heighten me; These of my sins the glasses be: And here I see How I have lov'd before. @3And so I love no more.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TRANSLUCENT FINGERS by MALCOLM COWLEY WITH CHAOS IN EACH KISS by TIMOTHY LIU THE PLANTING OF THE APPLE TREE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT JUBILATE AGNO: GARDNER'S TALENT by CHRISTOPHER SMART ONE SHORT HOUR by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE SHOEMAKERS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |