| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | To Sleep | | By Giovanni della Casa (1503–1556) |
| | Translated by John Addington Symonds
O SLEEP, O tranquil son of noiseless Night, | |
| Of humid, shadowy Night; O dear repose | |
| For wearied men, forgetfulness of woes | |
| Grievous enough the bloom of life to blight! | |
| Succour this heart that hath outworn delight, | 5 |
| And knows no rest; these tired limbs compose; | |
| Fly to me, sleep; thy dusky vans disclose | |
| Over my languid eyes, then cease thy flight. | |
| Where, where is Silence, that avoids the day? | |
| Where the light dreams, that with a wavering tread | 10 |
| And unsubstantial footing follow thee? | |
| Alas! in vain I call thee; and these grey, | |
| These frigid shades flatter in vain. O bed, | |
| How rough with thorns! O nights, how harsh to me! | | | | |
|
|
