| |
| WHEN I remember that accursèd night, | |
| When my dear Beauty said “She must depart! | |
| And the next morning, leave the City’s sight,” | |
| Ah, then! Even then, black Sorrow shewed his might! | |
| And placed his empire in my vanquished heart: | 5 |
| Mine heart still vanquished, yet assaulted still, | |
| Burnt with Love’s outrage; from whose clear torchlight, | |
| Fierce Sorrow finds a way to spoil and kill. | |
| Ah, Sorrow! Sorrow! never satisfied! | |
| And if not satisfied, work on thy will! | 10 |
| O dear departure of mine only bliss! | |
| When willing, from the City thou did ride; | |
| And I made offer (though then wounded wide) | |
| To go with thee; thou, rashly, didst refuse | |
| With me distressed, to be accompanied! | 15 |
| And binding words (imperious) didst use! | |
| Commanding me another way to choose. | |
| Ah then! even then, in spirit crucified, | |
| Mine eyes, with tears; mine heart, with sighs and throbs; | |
| Those, almost blind! that, hard swollen, almost burst! | 20 |
| My brains abjuring harbour to my Muse | |
| Did leave me choked almost, with strait sobs. | |
| Ah! be that hour and day, for ever curst; | |
| Which me, of my life’s liberty did rob! | |
| For, since that time, I never saw my Love! | 25 |
| Long can we not be severed! I will follow | |
| Through woods, through mountains, waves, and caves made hollow! | |
| O Grief! of grief’s extremity the worst! | |
| Still, will I follow! till I find thee out! | |
| And, if my wish, with travel, shall not prove; | 30 |
| Yet shall my sorrows travel round about | |
| In wailful Elegies, and mournful Verse, | |
| Until they find! and Thee, with pity pierce! | |
| Meanwhile, to see Thee more, standing in doubt; | |
| I’ll sing my Plain Song with the turtle dove; | 35 |
| And Prick Song, with the nightingale rehearse! | |
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