No Lover saith, I love, nor any other
Can judge a perfect Lover;
Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree
That any loves but hee:
I cannot say I lov'd, for who can say
Hee was kill'd yesterday?
Love with excesse of heat, more yong then old,
Death kills with too much cold;
Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die,
Hee that saith twice, doth lye:
For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while,
It doth the sense beguile.
Such life is like the light which bideth yet
When the lights life is set,
Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter
Leaves behinde, two houres after.
Once I lov'd and dy'd; and am now become
Mine Epitaph and Tombe.
Here dead men speake their last, and so do I;
Love-slaine, loe, here I lye.
[The Paradox. 1635-69: no title, 1633, A18, H40,
L74, N, O'F, S, S96 TCC, TCD]
[3 can, nor will agree A18, H40, N, O'F, S, TC:
can or will agree, 1633-69]
[6 yesterday?] yesterday. 1633-39]
[14 lights life H40, L74, RP31, S: lifes light
1633-69, A18, N, O'F, S96, TC]
[15 which Ed: which, 1633-69]
[17 lov'd A18, H40, L74, N, O'F, S, TC: love
1633-69
dy'd] dyed 1633-69]
[20 lye. H40, RP31, S, S96: dye. 1633-69, A18,
L74, N, O'F, TC]