A Farewell to False Love by Sir Walter Raleigh (POEM)

Farewell, false love, the oracle of lies,
A mortal foe and enemy to rest, 

An envious boy, from whom all cares arise, 

A bastard vile, a beast with rage possessed, 

A way of error, a temple full of treason, 

In all effects contrary unto reason. 

A poisoned serpent covered all with flowers, 

Mother of sighs, and murderer of repose, 

A sea of sorrows whence are drawn such showers 

As moisture lend to every grief that grows; 

A school of guile, a net of deep deceit, 

A gilded hook that holds a poisoned bait. 

A fortress foiled, which reason did defend, 

A siren song, a fever of the mind, 

A maze wherein affection finds no end, 

A raging cloud that runs before the wind, 

A substance like the shadow of the sun, 

A goal of grief for which the wisest run. 

A quenchless fire, a nurse of trembling fear, 

A path that leads to peril and mishap, 

A true retreat of sorrow and despair, 

An idle boy that sleeps in pleasure's lap, 

A deep mistrust of that which certain seems, 

A hope of that which reason doubtful deems. 

Sith then thy trains my younger years betrayed,

And for my faith ingratitude I find; 

And sith repentance hath my wrongs bewrayed,

Whose course was ever contrary to kind:

False love, desire, and beauty frail, adieu. 

Dead is the root whence all these fancies grew.