Love

An Altar and Sacrifice to Disdain, for Freeing Him from Love

by Anonymous (Elizabethan miscellanies) c. 1575–1602

From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)

Love

My Muse by thee restored to life,
To thee, Disdain, this altar rears;
Whereon she offers causeless strife,
Self-spending sighs, and bootless tears.

Long suits in vain,
Hate for good will;
Still-dying pain,
Yet living still;
Self loving pride,
Looks coyly strange;
Will, Reason's guide,
Desire of change;
And, last of all,
Blind Fancy's fire;
False Beauty's thrall,
That binds Desire.

All these I offer to Disdain,
By whom I live from Fancy free;
With vow, that if I love again,
My life the sacrifice shall be.

✦ ✦ ✦

Credited to "A. W." in Francis Davison's own manuscript list (Bullen prints the initials in square brackets).

MLA

Anonymous (Elizabethan miscellanies). “An Altar and Sacrifice to Disdain, for Freeing Him from Love.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-miscellanies/95/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Elizabethan miscellanies). “An Altar and Sacrifice to Disdain, for Freeing Him from Love.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-miscellanies/95/.

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