Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury. "Thus ends my Love."

[Love's End]

by Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury

Thus ends my Love, but this doth grieve me most,
    That so it ends, but that ends too, this yet,
Besides the Wishes, hopes and time I lost,
    Troubles my mind awhile, that I am set
Free, worse then deny'd :  I can neither boast
    Choice nor success, as my Case is, nor get
Pardon from my self, that I loved not
    A better Mistress, or her worse ; this Debt
Only's her due, still, that she be forgot
Ere chang'd, lest I love none ; this done, the taint
    Of foul Inconstancy is clear'd at least
In me, there only rests but to unpaint
    Her form in my mind, that so dispossest
It be a Temple, but without a Saint.

Transcribed and coded by Anniina Jokinen from the Scolar Press
Facsimile of Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert (1665)
Bodleian Library. Shelf-mark: Bliss. A.98. Wing H1508.
Transcription and code copyright ©2002 Anniina Jokinen.

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