dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Poetical Works by Sir Thomas Wyatt  »  The abused Lover, admonishes the unwary to beware of Love

Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880.

Odes

The abused Lover, admonishes the unwary to beware of Love

LO! what it is to love!

Learn ye that list to prove

At me, I say;

No ways that may

The grounded grief remove,

My life alway

That doth decay;

Lo! what it is to love.

Flee alway from the snare:

Learn by me to beware

Of such a train

Which doubles pain,

And endless woe, and care

That doth retain;

Which to refrain

Flee alway from the snare.

To love, and to be wise,

To rage with good advice;

Now thus, now than,

Now off, now an,

Uncertain as the dice;

There is no man

At once that can

To love and to be wise.

Such are the divers throes,

Such that no man knows

That hath not prov’d

And once have lov’d;

Such are the raging woes

Sooner reprov’d

Than well remov’d,

Such are the divers throes.

Love is a fervent fire

Kindled by hot desire;

For a short pleasure

Long displeasure,

Repentance is the hire;

A poor treasure,

Without measure;

Love is a fervent fire.

Lo! what it is to love!