Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Thomas Campion. 1567?1619170. 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 |