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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ART OF LOVE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Honest lover whosoever
Last Line: Thou must begin again, and love anew.
Variant Title(s): Ode To A Lover;song
Subject(s): Love


HONEST lover whosoever,
If in all thy love there ever
Was one wav'ring thought, if thy flame
Were not still even, still the same:
Know this,
Thou lov'st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.

If, when she appears i' th' room,
Thou dost not quake, and art struck dumb,
And in striving this to cover,
Dost not speak thy words twice over:
Know this, etc.

If fondly thou dost not mistake,
And all defects for graces take,
Persuad'st thyself that jests are broken,
When she hath little or nothing spoken:
Know this, etc.

If, when thou appear'st to be within,
Thou lett'st not men ask and ask again;
And when thou answer'st, if it be,
To what was ask'd thee, properly:
Know this, etc.

If, when thy stomach calls to eat,
Thou cutt'st not fingers 'stead of meat,
And with much gazing on her face
Dost not rise hungry from the place:
Know this, etc.

If by this thou dost discover
That thou art no perfect lover,
And desiring to love true,
Thou dost begin to love anew:
Know this,
Thou lov'st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.





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