Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Browne, of Tavistock. 15881643244. 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. |