Love
An Altar and Sacrifice to Disdain, for Freeing Him from Love
From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)
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.
Codex Note
Credited to "A. W." in Francis Davison's own manuscript list (Bullen prints the initials in square brackets).
Cite this poem
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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