dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  143. Orpheus ? or John Fletcher.

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

143. Orpheus ? or John Fletcher.

ORPHEUS with his lute made trees 
And the mountain tops that freeze 
  Bow themselves when he did sing: 
To his music plants and flowers 
Ever sprung; as sun and showers         5
  There had made a lasting spring. 
 
Every thing that heard him play, 
Even the billows of the sea, 
  Hung their heads and then lay by. 
In sweet music is such art,  10
  Killing care and grief of heart 
  Fall asleep, or hearing, die.