| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| Thomas Campion. 1567?–1619 |
| |
170. Devotion
i |
| |
| FOLLOW thy fair sun, unhappy shadow! | |
| Though thou be black as night, | |
| And she made all of light, | |
| Yet follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow! | |
| |
| Follow her, whose light thy light depriveth! | 5 |
| Though here thou liv'st disgraced, | |
| And she in heaven is placed, | |
| Yet follow her whose light the world reviveth! | |
| |
| Follow those pure beams, whose beauty burneth! | |
| That so have scorchèd thee | 10 |
| As thou still black must be, | |
| Till her kind beams thy black so brightness turneth. | |
| |
| Follow her, while yet her glory shineth! | |
| There comes a luckless night | |
| That will dim all her light; | 15 |
| And this the black unhappy shade divineth. | |
| |
| Follow still, since so thy fates ordainèd! | |
| The sun must have his shade, | |
| Till both at once do fade,— | |
| The sun still proud, the shadow still disdained. | 20 |
|
|
