Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham

Chloris! Farewell

1 Chloris! farewell. I now must go;
    For if with thee I longer stay,
  Thy eyes prevail upon me so,
    I shall prove blind, and lose my way.

2 Fame of thy beauty, and thy youth,
    Among the rest, me hither brought;
  Finding this fame fall short of truth,
    Made me stay longer than I thought.

3 For I’m engaged by word and oath,
    A servant to another’s will;
  Yet, for thy love, I’d forfeit both,
    Could I be sure to keep it still.

4 But what assurance can I take,
    When thou, foreknowing this abuse,
  For some more worthy lover’s sake,
    Mayst leave me with so just excuse?

5 For thou mayst say, ’twas not thy fault
    That thou didst thus inconstant prove;
  Being by my example taught
    To break thy oath, to mend thy love.

6 No, Chloris! no: I will return,
    And raise thy story to that height,
  That strangers shall at distance burn,
    And she distrust me reprobate.

7 Then shall my love this doubt displace,
    And gain such trust, that I may come
  And banquet sometimes on thy face,
    But make my constant meals at home.