John Dowland
Tell me true Love
Tell me true Love where shall I seeke thy being
In thoughts or words, in vowes or promise making
In reasons, lookes, or passions never seeing
In men on earth, or womens minds partaking
Thou canst not dye, and therefore living tell me
Where is thy seate, why doth this age expell thee?
When thoughts are still unseene and words disguised;
Vowes are not sacred held, nor promise debt:
By passion reasons glory is surprised
In nеyther sexe is truе love firmly set
Thoughts fainde, words false, vowes and promise broken
Made true Love flye from earth, this is the token
Mount then my thoughts, here is for thee no dwelling
Since truth and falshood live like twins together:
Beleeve not sense, eyes, eares, touch, taste, or smelling
Both Art and Nature’s forc’d: put trust in neyther
One onely shee doth true Love captive binde
In fairest brest, but in a fairer minde
O fairest minde, enrich’d with Loves residing
Retaine the best, in hearts let some seed fall
In stead of weeds Loves fruits may have abiding;
At Harvest you shall reape encrease of all
O happy Love, more happy man that findes thee
Most happy Saint, that keepes, restores, unbindes thee