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C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Honest Lover

By Sir John Suckling (1609–1642)

HONEST lover whosoever,

If in all thy love there ever

Was one wavering 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:

Thou lov’st amiss,

And, to love true,

Thou must begin again, and love anew.

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:

Thou lov’st amiss,

And, to love true,

Thou must begin again, and love anew.

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 asked thee properly,—

Know this:

Thou lov’st amiss,

And, to love true,

Thou must begin again, and love anew.

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:

Thou lov’st amiss,

And, to love true,

Thou must begin again, and love anew.

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.