Love

Song: 'Foolish Lover, go and seek'

by Thomas Stanley 1625–1678

From Poems (1647)

Love

Foolish Lover, go and seek
For the damask of the rose,
And the lilies white dispose
To adorn thy mistress' cheek;

Steal some star out of the sky,
Rob the phoenix, and the east
Of her wealthy sweets divest,
To enrich her breath or eye!

We thy borrow'd pride despise:
For this wine, to which we are
Votaries, is richer far
Than her cheek, or breath, or eyes.

And should that coy fair one view
These diviner beauties, she
In this flame would rival thee,
And be taught to love thee too.

Come, then, break thy wanton chain,
That when this brisk wine hath spread
On thy paler cheek a red,
Thou, like us, mayst Love disdain.

Love, thy power must yield to wine!
And whilst thus ourselves we arm,
Boldly we defy thy charm:
For these flames extinguish thine.

MLA

Stanley, Thomas. “Song: 'Foolish Lover, go and seek'.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/stanley/10/.

Chicago

Stanley, Thomas. “Song: 'Foolish Lover, go and seek'.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/stanley/10/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Thomas Stanley