VIII. The Farewell fo Love. .......................................................................................
From Beaumont and Fletcher's play, entitledThe Lover's Progress, act iii. sc.
I.
ADIEU, fond love! farewell you wanton powers!
I am free again.
Thou dull disease of bloud and idle hours,
Betwitching pain,
Fly to fools, that sigh away their time!
My nobler love to heaven doth climb,
And there behold beauty still young,
That time can ne'er corrupt, nor death destroy,
Immortal sweetness by fair angels sung,
And honoured by eternity and joy:
There lies my love, thither my hopes aspire,
Fond love declines, this heavenly love grows higher.