Foolish love

Some say love, foolish love,

doth rule and govern gods.

I say love, inconstant love,

sets men's senses far at odds.

Some swear love, smooth-face love,

is sweetest sweet that men can have.

I say love, sour love,

makes virtue yield as beauty's slave.

A bitter sweet, a folly vorst of all,

that forceth wisdom to be folly's thrall.

Love is sweet.

In fading pleasures that do pain.

Wherein sweet? Is that sweet,

that yieldeth sorrow for a gain?

If love's sweet, herein sweet,

that minute's joys are monthly woes.

'Tis not sweet, that is sweet nowhere

but where repentance grows.

Then love who list, if beauty be so sour:

Labour for me; love rest in prince's bower.