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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  244. Memory

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

William Browne, of Tavistock. 1588–1643

244. Memory

SO shuts the marigold her leaves 
  At the departure of the sun; 
So from the honeysuckle sheaves 
  The bee goes when the day is done; 
So sits the turtle when she is but one,         5
And so all woe, as I since she is gone. 
 
To some few birds kind Nature hath 
  Made all the summer as one day: 
Which once enjoy’d, cold winter’s wrath 
  As night they sleeping pass away.  10
Those happy creatures are, that know not yet 
The pain to be deprived or to forget. 
 
I oft have heard men say there be 
  Some that with confidence profess 
The helpful Art of Memory:  15
  But could they teach Forgetfulness, 
I’d learn; and try what further art could do 
To make me love her and forget her too.