Love

Tell Me, Dearest, What Is Love?

by John Fletcher 1576–1625

From Lyrics from the Dramatists of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1889)

Love

Tell me, dearest, what is love?
Tis a lightning from above;
Tis an arrow, 'tis a fire,
'Tis a boy they call Desire.
'Tis a grave,
Gapes to have
Those poor fools that long to prove.

Tell me more, are women true?
Yes, some are, and some as you.
Some are willing, some are strange,
Since you men first taught to change.
And till troth
Be in both,
All shall love, to love anew.

Tell me more yet, can they grieve?
Yes, and sicken sore, but live,
And be wise, and delay,
When you men are as wise as they.
Then I see,
Faith will be,
Never till they both believe.

MLA

Fletcher, John. “Tell Me, Dearest, What Is Love?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/fletcher_j/18/.

Chicago

Fletcher, John. “Tell Me, Dearest, What Is Love?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/fletcher_j/18/.

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