Faction that ever dwells

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a world where wit and courtly maneuvering hold sway, but this environment is marked by defiance and a fundamental rift between fortune and love. Fortune, personified, seems to dictate that these two forces are incompatible, suggesting that those who rely on wit or fickle hearts are easily swayed by her whims. The narrator observes that this societal discord breeds a kind of atheism towards honor, a belief that nature itself has ordained a separation: wit belongs to the court, while love resides in the wild, the 'wood.' This perceived division leads the narrator to make a decisive choice, seeking refuge and authenticity in the 'wood' with love, casting fortune aside. The phrase 'Fortune forlorn' signals a rejection of worldly success or luck in favor of a more enduring connection. The narrator's past experiences, particularly 'experience of my youth,' have taught them that true value lies in 'humble truth,' a quality they associate with being 'in desert born' – suggesting a life stripped of artifice and courtly pretense. The core of the narrator's newfound conviction rests on a specific individual, 'Joan.' She is described as their 'saint,' 'fair and true,' and the source of their deepest affections. Joan embodies the very essence of love that the narrator has chosen over the deceptive allure of fortune and the court. The final declaration, 'Fortune adieu,' solidifies this commitment, indicating a complete severance from the world of wit and chance in favor of a life guided by love and personal truth, personified by Joan.