Tudor and Stuart Love Songs — Francis Beaumont

TELL ME, WHAT IS LOVE?

Tell me, dearest, what is love?

'Tis a lightning from above, 'Tis an arrow, 'tis a fire, 'Tis a boy they call Desire.

'Tis a grave Gapes to have Those poor fools that long to prove.

Tell me more, are women true?

Yes, some are, and some as you;

Some are willing, some are strange, Since you men first taught to change.

And till truth Be in both All shall love to love anew.

Tell me more yet, can they grieve?

Yes, and sicken sore, but live: And be wise and delay, When you men are as wise as they.

Then I see Faith will be Never till they both believe.

Francis Beaumont.

PINING FOR LOVE.

How long shall I pine for love?

How long shall I sue in vain?

How long like the turtle-dove, Shall I heartily thus complain?

Shall the sails of my heart stand still?

Shall the grists of my hope be unground?

Oh fie, oh fie, oh fie, Let the mill, let the mill go round.

Francis Beaumont.

FIE ON LOVE.

Now fie on foolish love, it not befits Or man or woman know it.

Love was not meant for people in their wits, And they that fondly show it Betray the straw, and features in their brain, And shall have Bedlam for their pain: If simple love be such a curse, To marry is to make it ten times worse.

Francis Beaumont.